Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru (SP)

Mysuru, Sep 6: Former minister, JD(S) leader and close confidante of H D Deve Gowda, G T Devegowda, who represents Chamundeshwarai constituency here in the assembly, predicted that the official candidate of the JD(S) will taste defeat in Hunsur constituency. He said that former JD(S) state president and disqualified MLA, H Vishwanath, will come out victorious there.

This has fuelled further speculation about Devegowda, who appears to be inching closer to the BJP since the collapse of the coalition government. Devegowda had recently hinted that he would stay away from electoral politics and field his son from Chamundeshwari constituency. He also has expressed unhappiness at former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, and former minister Sa Ra Mahesh.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday September 5, Devegowda openly expressed his disapproval of the way he was treated in Kumaraswamy-led government, and minister, Sa Ra Mahesh's behaviour. "Kumaraswamy had promised in 2004 to nurture me to become alternative to Siddaramaiah in Mysuru. But he did not make me a minister then. As Siddaramaiah won from Chamundeshwari constituency, I was made minister for cooperation for seven months. Thereafter, I left the party, as I was angry at the fact that Kumaraswamy did not keep up his promise of handing over power to Yediyurappa. Although I was defeated in Hunsur, I was given the post of the housing board chairman, which is equal to the post of a cabinet minister by the BJP. Later, I returned to the JD(S)," he explained.

"When I visited H D Deve Gowda at his home, Revanna had suggested to me to field my son in Hunsur bypoll. But I told him that Hunsur constituency will elect Vishwanath, and not my son," he revealed. He said that he had expressed the opinion that he would prefer to field his son from Chamundeshwari constituency.