Congress president spoke to me, asked me to withdraw, syas Muddahanume Gowda
After weeks of defying the party diktat, sitting Tumakuru Congress Member of Parliament S.P. Muddahanume Gowda who had stayed firm on contesting the Tumakuru seat in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections withdrew his nomination papers at the insistence of Congress leaders, AICC president Rahul Gandhi and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday, making way for the JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda. Mr. Muddahanume Gowda, a two-time legislator, lost out on the Tumakuru seat after it was picked by the former Prime Minister when he gave up his Hassan seat to his grandson as part of the seat-sharing arrangement with coalition partner Congress, leading to much heartburn in the Congress camp, particularly in the camp of the hugely popular Muddahanume Gowda.In an interview to M.B.Girish after he withdrew his papers, Muddahanume Gowda told Deccan Chronicle why he pulled out of the contest, his reluctance to go campaigning for the candidate he has given up his seat for, while denying that he had been offered a post in the government in return. "There's no quid pro quo," he said. Excerpts..
Q. What made you withdraw from the contest?
MH GOWDA : AICC president Rahul Gandhi, Congress party Karnataka incharge KC Venugopal, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwar and others persuaded me to withdraw from the contest. In fact, Rahul Gandhi spoke to me directly, asking me to withdraw from the contest. All these leaders appealed to me. They told me that if I contest the seat, it will send a wrong message to the party workers. Besides, these leaders also explained to me in detail the consequences of what might happen if I stick to my decision to contest the Lok Sabha poll as an independent (rebel). I also gave a serious thought to my decision, as I did not want to cause embarrassment to the Congress leaders and sacrificed my seat in the interests of the party. I took the decision, even though it goes against the principles of natural justice.
Q. Will your supporters who were adamant that you contest, back the move?
A Now, it is a very difficult task to make them understand the situation in which I backed out of the contest. It’s a Herculean task to convince them. Its true. I am concerned. But I have obeyed State leaders and the high command, even in the face of the present scenario.
Q. How does it benefit you? Have you been assured of any post in the coming days in return for your decision to withdraw?
A. --My decision to withdraw from the contest in unconditional. I did not file nominations seeking some favour. This was not part of the discussion that I had with the leaders who spoke to me. It was an unconditional decision to withdraw and I respected the words of these leaders since Mr Rahul Gandhi spoke to me directly asking for my withdrawal of nominations.
Q. What were your contributions to Tumakuru as an MP?
A. HAL’s chopper manufacturing unit is almost ready, roads including National Highways and a lot of development works related to railways has happened in Tumakuru in the last five years. Passport office has been operational and in a year 17,000 passports have been issued.
I strived for coconut growers in large numbers in the district to increase their Minimum Support Price for copra from Rs 6,000 per quintal in the past to around Rs 17,000 per quintal at present.
In addition, Tumakuru is getting many industries because of Chennai-Madras Industrial corridor and it is Industrial Smart City.
Besides, Tumakuru falls under Smart City and works have begun. There is a lot of development.
Q. Will you campaign for Mr Deve Gowda since he is the consensus candidate of the coalition from Tumakuru?
A. I need to think about whether I should go on a campaign. I never thought I would lose out on the seat so the idea of campaigning for another candidate did not cross my mind. I need some time to think and come out of the mental pressure that I have been under in the past several days. Its only after I rid myself of the mental pressure that I will be in a position to answer your question on whether I will be able to go out and campaign.
