Mysuru: KPCC spokesperson M Lakshmana on Tuesday claimed that if the NDA had informed JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda that he would not be renominated to the Rajya Sabha, the Congress would have considered giving him one of the three seats. He termed the BJP's decision to deny a Rajya Sabha seat to Gowda as an insult to the Vokkaliga community, which, he said, should understand the implications.
BJP's Last-Minute Decision Criticized
Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Lakshmana stated that "No one expected such humiliation to Gowda, who is still mentally very strong." He alleged that the BJP released its list at the last minute to mislead everyone. "The BJP IT Cell played tricks to convey that the saffron party will nominate the JD(S) top brass to the Rajya Sabha from another state," he claimed. Despite Gowda heaping praise on Prime Minister Modi, the BJP still hurt him, Lakshmana alleged.
Appeal to Kumaraswamy
Lakshmana alleged that Union Minister and state JD(S) President HD Kumaraswamy has pledged the entire regional party to the BJP. "I have a small request for Kumaraswamy on behalf of JD(S) workers. Please reconsider your alliance with BJP," he said. He lamented that ten days ago, BJP leaders had stated that the state unit recommended Gowda's name as an NDA candidate, but the high command nominated a person whose name was not recommended by the party state unit.
Lakshmana further alleged that HD Kumaraswamy did not bring even a single project to the state and did not interact with any state representatives on reviving central PSUs in Karnataka. He predicted that Kumaraswamy would lose his ministry within the next three months and questioned his silence on the insult to Deve Gowda by the BJP.
Political Predictions and Criticism
Lakshmana predicted that DMK and TMC rebels are expected to join the NDA, after which JD(S) will lose relevance at the center. He claimed that after DK Shivakumar became Chief Minister, many Vokkaliga voters who had joined the BJP camp earlier returned to the Congress fold. "In the 2028 election, Congress will retain power with a bigger majority of 150 MLAs," he asserted.
On Mysore MP Yaduveer Wadiyar's criticism that developmental works are stalled in the state, Lakshmana questioned the MP's contribution to the constituency. "His grandfather, Mysuru Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, was known for social justice and secularism. But you are in a communal party. What is your contribution to the constituency?" he questioned.
