BJP candidate should replace Prajwal in Hassan, says ex-MLA

Maqsood Maniyar

Bengaluru: A new point of friction has emerged between allies JD(S) and BJP as newly appointed saffron party state general secretary Preetham Gowda has slyly thrown his name into the ring for the Hassan Lok Sabha seat. JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda’s grandson Prajwal Revanna is the current Hassan MP.

Deve Gowda has in the past suggested that Prajwal would contest on behalf of the allies from Hassan again. Preetham, a former MLA from Hassan, who lost to JD(S)’ HP Swaroop from the constituency in May is looking to get elected to the Lok Sabha instead.

It is to be noted that he contested from the Hassan parliamentary constituency back in 2019 and lost to Prajwal.

Preetham’s comments come as a surprise since JD(S) already has a sitting MP in Hassan, which is considered a stronghold of the regional party.

Secondly, it is the BJP which is expected to concede at least four seats, displacing their own incumbent MPs in the process.

The saffron party has 25 MPs in the Lok Sabha in addition to the BJP-backed Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh.

Prajwal is a BJP ally, which leaves Bengaluru Rural MP DK Suresh as the only Opposition Lok Sabha member in the state.

Surveys favour us: Preetham

Preetham insisted that the BJP had better chances of winning from Hassan in the general elections going by surveys.

“One example that can be cited is that a BJP victory is more likely in Hassan than a JD(S) one going by our recent surveys. Under such circumstances, we would expect the JD(S) to willingly cooperate with our candidate. This is a two way street. We would be expected to do the same under similar circumstances. The only criterion for seat sharing is what survey reports say. In any case, both parties view the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi favourably,” Gowda told mediapersons.

“I had suggested four names (from the BJP) for the Lok Sabha (candidacy). Several others are also eligible. Their names will also be discussed. Everyone will be judged by the same criteria, which are surveys,” he added.

Preetham is also an aspirant for the post of the BJP Hassan district president, which would be chosen in the near future. This is not the first time he has advocated for a BJP candidate in Hassan.

Back in November, he had expressed hope that JD(S) would voluntarily give up the Hassan seat to the BJP.

What was telling was that he was responding to a question by a reporter as to whether he would work for a JD(S) candidate in Hassan.