Bengaluru: Switching his loyalties from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to Janata Dal Secular (JDS), former minister A Manju made his first public appearance with JDS leader and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy at ‘Pancharatna Yatra’ on Monday in Channarayapatna taluk of Hassan. However, Manju’s son Manthar Gowda is in Congress party and an aspirant to contest from Madikeri Assembly seat.
Manju joined JDS on Kumaraswamy’s invitation and his induction was held in the presence of JDS national president and former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda on Saturday. Earlier Manju said “I wanted to choose a party to safeguard my supporters.” Besides, he said, his supporters did not wish him to contest as an independent nominee in the ensuing Assembly poll.
Manju had represented Arkalgud Assembly as a BJP nominee in 1999 and as a Congress candidate in 2008 and 2013. In the Congress ruling the State (2013-2018), Manju served as a Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture.
Being a strong political opponent of JDS in Hassan, a miffed Manju quit Congress party ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha election in Hassan to join BJP and contested against JDS nominee Prajwal Revanna, a political novice and grandson of ex-PM H.D. Devegowda.
To quit the Congress party, Manju stated that he was against Congress party extending support to JDS nominee Prajwal. BJP’s Manju lost to Prajwal in the election.
In the 2014 Hassan Lok Sabha election, Manju as Congress candidate contested against JDS nominee and former Prime Minister H.D. Devegowda. Manju lost to Devegowda.
After losing 2019 Lok Sabha poll, Manju moved the Court seeking disqualification of Prajwal as an MP alleging him of furnishing false details in his election affidavit.
With the changed political scenario in Arakalagudu Assembly seat especially after JDS MLA A.T. Ramaswamy identified with the Congress party, Manju switched his loyalties and is tipped to contest from JDS in the ensuing Assembly poll.
Sources said once A. Manju was close to ex-PM Deve Gowda in the 1980s and parted ways after he was denied ticket to contest from Arkalgud seat. Now, Manju has returned to Devegowda’s circle after three-decades.
