MANDYA: The shuffling of candidates is still on before the last day for filing nominations-April 24- with the Janata Dal (S) first issuing the 'B' form to its sitting MLA from Krishnaraja Pet assembly seat in Mandya, Narayana Gowda and then reportedly planning to change its nominee by issuing the 'C' form to field Zilla Panchayat member Devraj from the seat.
While the B form is proof that a particular candidate is put up by a political party, the C form overrides the earlier nomination done by the party.
The JDS has in the past too, changed its candidate by issuing the 'C' form. It had changed its Shidlaghatta nominee M Rajanna and replaced him with B.N. Ravikumar. During the 2013 poll, for the Kunigal seat in Tumakuru, the JD(S) changed the nominee it had announced earlier and fielded Nagarajaiah by issuing the 'C' form.
Sources in KR Pet told Deccan Chronicle that Devraj representing Akkihebbalu ZP seat and had worked hard to build the party in the constituency along with another leader Prakash, a former MLA. During the previous election, JD(S) leaders had come to a understanding that they would work for the success of Narayana Gowda who would however have to make way for Devraj or Prakash in the next election. But, the party issued the 'B' form to Narayana Gowda again and he filed his papers on Monday.
The warring faction of Devraj and Prakash held a series of meetings after Narayana Gowda filed his papers and under pressure, it is said that the party decided to change Narayana Gowda and instead field Devraj from KR Pet. Devaraj might get the 'C' form from the party and its national president and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda may be present when he files his papers on Tuesday.
Efforts to contact Narayana Gowda were futile since he did not respond to repeated calls but sources close to Mr Gowda said that there was no question of the party changing its nominee.
