Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru (SP)

Mysuru, May 11: Growing angry at the tenacious demand to issue assembly ticket from Hunsur constituency to party leader G T Deve Gowda instead of accommodating a leader who is expected to defect from another party, former chief minister and state JD(S) president, H D Kumaraswamy, slapped Premkumar, who happens to be vice president of Hunsur taluk panchayat.

After the information that the JD(S) party leadership has entered into an agreement with former Congress MP, H Vishwanath, to field him from Hunsur constituency, dissidence has cropped up within the party cadres in the region. Meeting of booth level workers of JD(S) had been convened at Sa Ra Convention Hall at Dattagalli in the city on Wednesday. JD(S) activists from Hunsur region and supporters of former minister and JD(S) leader, G T Deve Gowda, blocked the movement of Kumaraswamy and urged him to issue assembly ticket from Hunsur either to Deve Gowda or his son, G D Harish Gowda.

Because of the recent developments, it is said that G T Deve Gowad and his family is angry and therefore kept away from party activities. The family did not participate in the meeting held on Wednesday. In addition, S Chikkamadu, MLA representing H D Kote constituency in the district also stayed away.

The activists said that G T Deve Gowda's family had kept regular contact with the people of Hunsur constituency and hence it would be unjust to give ticket to a newcomer. They felt that MLA, Sa Ra Mahesh, was trying to shift Vishwanath to Hunsur to ensure that he does not have to contend with a strong challenger at K R Nagara constituency. They said that because of various developments, the voters are feeling the void of a strong leadership in the region.

When the activists raised a din demanding ticket to the people recommended by them, Kumaraswamy got angry and slapped Premkumar. He said he is aware of what decision would suit the party best. He asked the party activists to work for the victory of the candidate supported by the party, and also told them without mentioning Vishwanath's name, that they would have got to know by now who the party candidate from Hunsur will be.

Later, both Kumaraswamy and Premkumar clarified that the slapping incident had not happened at the meeting.