Bengaluru: Jolted by his grandson, Prajwal Revanna's revelation on "suitcase" culture in JD (S), patriarch H D Deve Gowda dropped hints that Mrs Bhavani Revanna and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's wife, Anita Kumaraswamy, would contest next year's elections to the Legislative Assembly.
At the same time, the former PM hinted that Mr Prajwal Revanna might contest Lok Sabha elections in 2019 from Hassan constituency. "I am getting old, and I do not have the strength to contest the next Lok Sabha polls. My biggest worry has been finding a suitable candidate to replace me".
During last one year, Mr Gowda repeatedly stated that except Mr Kumaraswamy and Mr Revanna. none from his family would contest the Assembly elections. Mrs Anita Kumaraswamy was not a novice to state politics since she had won from Channapatna Assembly constituency in 2008 but lost in Madhugiri constituency in 2013 polls. On the other hand, Mrs Bhavani Revanna was about to contest in 2013 Assembly elections but dropped the idea at the last minute following instructions from her father-in-law. However, she entered politics by getting elected to Hassan zilla panchayat.
According to Mr Kumaraswamy, there was pressure from party workers to field Mrs Anita Kumaraswamy from Channapatna constituency again but he had left it to the party boss on giving her the ticket. At the same time, Mr Revanna too sought a ticket to his wife to contest from Belur or any other safe constituency in Hassan district.
On Mr Prajwal Revanna's ambition to enter electoral politics, Mr Gowda said since the beginning he wanted to contest from Belur constituency but after denial of permission he went to Hunsur with intention of making his debut from there.
"Since I am getting old, there are no good leaders to replace me in Hassan Lok Sabha constituency", he said adding that Mr Prajwal Revanna would be groomed over the next two years to contest the parliamentary polls.
