Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jul 8: Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda, has turned livid at the statement made by his grandson, Prajwal Revanna, about the alleged 'pro-suitcase and anti-loyalists' policies of the party. He has issued a stern warning to Prajwal that party activists who cross their limits will face disciplinary action.

Realizing the damage the remark made by Prajwal at a meeting of party workers at Hunsur might inflict on the party and the family circles, Deve Gowda, in an apparent damage control exercise, convened an emergency press meet here on Friday where he poured out his dissatisfaction about Prajwal's utterances.

"I am extremely pained at Prajwal's statement. I find it hard to digest what he said. This kind of statements cannot be tolerated. In my entire political life, I have never indulged in suitcase culture. I sometimes had to borrow money at exorbitant rates of interest to build the party and face the election," he said. At the same time, he requested people not to take Prajwal's statements on this issue seriously.

Deve Gowda said that there is no dissidence in his party and that he will not let his family split. "Spirited utterances made by Prajwal harm his own political progress. People who are around him are not good and mature enough. To me, all this appears like pre-conceived. Some seem to be misleading Prajwal, and they seem to be driven by some other agenda," an angry Deve Gowda thundered.

Deve Gowda clarified that other than Anita Kumaraswamy and Bhavani Revanna who are already in the political field, no other women from his family will take a plunge into politics. He warned that people would be wrong if they think that making statements at their will can earn them party tickets. As far as violating party discipline is concerned, he said he does not differentiate between his own family members and others.

"I do not have enough vigour to fight another Lok Sabha election. I am often overtaken by worries over who will succeed me. Prajwal may be harbouring a desire to fight assembly election. Initially he moved around Belur constituency. After he was advised against entering election from there, he went to Hunsur. My decision on allotment of tickets would be final, and there can be no confusion about that," Gowda asserted.

At the same time, dissident MLAs from JD(S), Magadi Balakrishna and Zameer, said that Prajwal had stated the truth when he said his party is guided by suitcase culture. "Prajwal's statement has laid bare the actual face of former chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy. He cannot tolerate the progress of his own family members. How can one expect him to bear with the progress of other leaders like us?" they questioned. They said that this development has proved that Kumaraswamy does not want to allow his nephew to grow in politics.

Magadi Balakrishna, when pledging his support for Prajwal, analyzed that there has been tussle between Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy on the issue of allotment of party tickets. He said that Kumaraswamy's own family will see that he will not become the next chief minister, and Deve Gowda is thinking in terms of forming the government by joining hands with Congress.

Zameer Ahmed Khan said that Deve Gowda supports loyal party activists, but Kumaraswamy supports those who are prepared to give suitcase full of cash. Stating that Kumaraswamy is adept at indulging in suitase politics, he said because of this behaviour of Kumaraswamy, he and fellow party men were forced to leave JD(S).