As campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections begins to pick up steam, political parties across the country are trading charges of nepotism.
In Karnataka, attention has focussed on the imminent political debut of two grandsons of JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda. In a reference to this, senior BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa on Tuesday slammed Gowda for promoting his family. Speaking to journalists in Mysuru, Eshwarappa declared, “If Deve Gowda had 28 sons, he would have made them candidates in the 28 constituencies.” Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha constituencies.
Eshwarappa, a former deputy chief minister during the BJP's rule in Karnataka, also claimed the “Modi wave” was continuing, with women and children in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Wednesday, the JD(S) announced Prajwal Revanna, grandson of Deve Gowda, would be the party's candidate from Hassan constituency. Prajwal is the son of Deve Gowda's son H.D. Revanna, a minister in the government of his brother Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy. Interestingly, Deve Gowda is the sitting MP for Hassan.
The JD(S) is also keen on fielding Kumaraswamy's son, Nikhil, from the Mandya constituency. However, there have been reports of opposition to the candidature of Nikhil from activists of both the JD(S) and its ally, the Congress.