Hassan: In Deve Gowda’s footsteps, Prajwal makes first move, files papers
Hassan: Prajwal R, 28, prepared to step into the shoes of his grandfather and JD (S) president H D Deve Gowda, a six-time Member of Parliament from Hassan, handing in his nomination papers for next month’s Lok Sabha polls in Hassan, on Friday.
Mr Prajwal visited deputy commissioner, Akram Pasha, twice during the day—first with his mother Bhavani Revanna, and Mr C Gopalaswamy, MLC, and later with his brother Dr Suraj and Mr Deve Gowda, to submit two sets of nomination papers. His uncle and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy proposed his candidature, making it an all family affair.
In his debut poll scheduled next month, Mr Prajwal would lock horns with former minister and BJP nominee A Manju. In the last general elections, Mr Manju contested unsuccessfully against Mr Deve Gowda on a Congress ticket. District Congress president Javagal Manjunath, former minister B. Shivaram and other Congress leaders accompanied Mr Prajwal in a procession to the deputy commissioner’s office. Prior to submission of nomination papers, Mr Prajwal offered pooja at various temples in Holenarsipur and Haradanahalli, and had visited Sringeri and Dharamasthala, to seek the blessings of presiding deities Sharadamaba and Manjunathaswamy respectively for his “B” form.
Addressing party workers later at a rally, Mr Deve Gowda sought the blessing of voters for Prajwal just as they had blessed him many times in Hassan district.
While, Congress leaders MLC Gopalaswamy and S.M. Anand said that as per the directions of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), they will support the candidature of Prajwal and urged all Congress workers to work for the success of Prajwal in the Lok Sabha poll.
Meanwhile in an attempt to embarrass Mr Prajwal and senior leaders of Dal (S), leaders of BJP passed around a video clipping claiming that JD (S)-Congress workers were paid hefty sums by party leaders to take part in a procession ahead of Mr Prajwal’s submission of nomination papers.
