Congress rebels withdraw papers, make Tumakuru seat safe for Deve Gowda

Tumakuru: Two Congress leaders – former MLA K.N. Rajanna and sitting MP S.P. Mudda hanume Gowda, who had filed their nomination papers to contest the Tumakuru Lok Sabha election against JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda – withdrew from the contest on Friday, saying that they abide by the directions of the party high command and that they have not placed any condition for withdrawals of papers. Both the leaders had filed the papers, stating that they are Congress candidates but without the “B” form from the party.

Now, it will be a direct fight between Mr Deve Gowda and BJP's G.S. Basavaraju.

Mr Rajanna withdrew his papers in person at the Deputy Commissioner’s office, while Mr Mudda hanume Gowda sent his aide and election agent Mayasandra Ravikumkar on his behalf to withdraw from the contest.

Mr Muddahanume Gowda is the sitting Congress MP and he had to make way for Mr Deve Gowda, who migrated from Hassan, after the Congress-JD(S) coalition partners decided on a sharing agreement for the Lok Sabha polls.

Revolting against the party’s decision to give the Tumakauru seat to the JD(S), Mr Rajanna and Mr Muddahanume Gowda had entered the fray, hoping that the party high command would take back the seat from the JD(S).

Mr Rajanna told reporters, “Even I could have asked my election agent to withdraw the papers, but I did not. We both had plans to withdraw the papers together.”

He made it clear that he has not put forth any demand before the party to withdraw the papers nor has he received any assurance from the party high command.

Mr Rajanna said that the Tumakuru Congress is a divided house where one section supports Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar, while the other stands by former chief minister Sidda ramaiah. Mr Rajanna said that he supports Mr Sidda ramaiah to become the chief minister again. “I stand by Mr Siddaramaiah, who is for the poor,” he said, stating that AICC president Rahul Gandhi should become Prime Minister.

Expressing displeasure over the functioning of Dr Parameshwar, he said, “He has not done anything good since he has been in power for close to a year.”