Mandya: Karnataka’s Agriculture Minister and Mandya district-in-charge Minister, Cheluvarayaswamy, took a dig at senior JD(S) leaders, expressing irony over their apparent loss of autonomy in announcing candidates for the Hassan and Mandya Parliamentary constituencies.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to the residence of Congress party’s Mandya candidate, Venkataramane Gowda (popularly known as Star Chandru), in Bandigowda on Wednesday, Cheluvarayaswamy remarked on the current political landscape.
Highlighting the perceived misstep of aligning with the BJP, Cheluvarayaswamy suggested that JD(S) leaders have begun to realize their error. He contrasted this with the respectful treatment extended to former Prime Minister Deve Gowda and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy during the JD(S)-Congress alliance.
Further underscoring JD(S)’s purported dilemma, Cheluvarayaswamy pointed out the nomination of Dr. Manjunath, Devegowda’s son-in-law, by the BJP in Bengaluru Rural, a move indicating a lack of confidence within JD(S). He also noted the sidelining of Vokkaliga leaders by the BJP in the old Mysuru region, exemplified by the denial of a ticket to senior leader Sadananda Gowda, the sitting MP.
Expressing confidence in the Congress party’s electoral prospects, Cheluvarayaswamy predicted victory in at least 20 seats, including Mandya, in the upcoming general elections. He highlighted the forthcoming nomination filing by their candidate Star Chandru on April 1st and attributed their optimism to the implementation of five guarantees and eight months of developmental initiatives undertaken by the Congress government in the state.
During the occasion, Congress party Mandya candidate Venkataramane Gowda (Star Chandru) was joined by several MLAs, including AB Ramesh Bandissidde Gowda, PM Narendra Swamy, P. Ravikumar Ganiga, KM Udaya, Dinesh Gooli Gowda, Marithibbe Gowda, as well as former MLAs KB Chandrasekhar, B. Prakash, HB Ramu, District Congress President CD Gangadhar, and other party leaders.
