Ex-PM Deve Gowda 'Won't Contest' LS Polls, Here's What He Said About Kumaraswamy's Candidature

Former prime minister H. D. Deve Gowda said he will not be participating in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections due to his age. He was also asked about H. D. Kumaraswamy's candidature.

File Photo of Former prime minister H. D. Deve Gowda

Source : PTI

Former prime minister H. D. Deve Gowda announced on Saturday that he will not be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections due to his age. The 90-year-old JD(S) supremo expressed his intent to campaign for candidates, stating, "I am not contesting the elections. I am now 90. Whichever seats we get, wherever it is necessary, I will go there. I have some strength to talk and have memory power. With that, I will campaign," news agency PTI reported.

Regarding the potential candidacy of JD(S) state president H. D. Kumaraswamy in the Lok Sabha elections, Deve Gowda mentioned that no decision has been made yet, PTI reported. He acknowledged that they will follow whatever decision Prime Minister Narendra Modi puts forth.

Deve Gowda commended PM Modi for his 11-day intense "anushthan" before the installation of the Lord Ram idol in the newly constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya. He praised the Prime Minister saying, "Modi has done lots of 'Punya' (virtues), which is why he will perform the consecration of the Ram temple with the utmost devotion and spiritual discipline."

The former prime minister confirmed his attendance at the consecration ceremony on January 22, accompanied by his wife Chennamma. Notably, JD(S) had joined the BJP-led NDA in September of the previous year, and both parties had declared their intention to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka together.

 Lok Sabha Election: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Says His Son Won't Contest From Mysuru

In a separate development, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded to BJP MP Pratap Simha's claim that his son, Yathindra, might contest against him in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Mysuru-Kodagu constituency. According to PTI, Siddaramaiah dismissed the claim, stating, "Neither I nor Yathindra have said that he (Yathindra) will contest the election."

Siddaramaiah emphasised that decisions about tickets are based on recommendations from MLAs, local leaders, and party office bearers, not individual choices, PTI reported.

Siddaramaiah accused Pratap Simha of being fearful, saying, "Pratap Simha (Mysuru-Kodagu BJP MP) is scared, that's why he is saying that Yathindra will contest."

He clarified that State Urban Development Minister Suresha B. S. (Byrathi) has been appointed as an observer for the Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency, and decisions will be made based on Suresha's report on potential candidates. Pratap Simha had previously expressed concerns about Yathindra's potential candidacy and accused Siddaramaiah of framing his brother in a false case to pave the way for Yathindra's candidacy. 

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