GT Devegowda may join a new party soon

Shyam Sundar Vattam| NT
Mysuru

The Chamundeshwari JDS MLA, G.T. Devegowda, will take a call on his future course of action in two months after consulting his well-wishers, followers and important personalities of the constituency. In all probability, he is likely to join the ruling BJP since the party has promised him a ticket for him as well as for his son, G.D. Harish Gowda.

Recently, Devegowda surprised everyone when he was present along with other BJP leaders to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week, and also shared the dais with him in a government function on interaction with the beneficiaries of the central government programmes at Maharaja College Ground.

If Devegowda embraces BJP, it would be for the second stint as he had been in that party once and worked as Cooperation Minister. Subsequently, he joined JDS. Devegowda became famous when he defeated the sitting CM Siddramaiah from Chamundeshwari Constituency in 2018 Assembly polls by a margin over 35,000 votes. For this, he had briefly and reluctantly worked as Higher Education Minister though his wish was to bag the Co-Operation Department portfolio.

After the BJP came to power in 2019, Devegowda lost the ministership and also distanced himself from the JDS after former CM & JDSLP Leader H.D. Kumaraswamy gave preference for K.R.Nagar MLA Sa.Ra.Mahesh. This upset Devegowda and held talks with his political bete noire regarding joining the Congress Party provided the party gave tickets to himself from the Chamundeshwari constituency and for his son from Hunsur or K.R.Nagar constituency.

In the meantime, Leader of the Opposition in State Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah reportedly told Devegowda that he cannot promise to him and his son since the decision was vested with the high command.

Later on, when Devegowda's granddaughter died due to a brief illness, Modi had sent a letter of condolence to the MLA which touched him a lot. Last month, the State BJP leaders said they would whole-heartedly welcome Devegowda into the party and would also give a ticket for his son from anywhere in the district.

The saffron party was aware of the fact that Devegowda was a prominent Vokkaliga leader and he could sway the community votes towards the BJP in Mysuru and Mandya districts.

Devegowda told News Trail that so far, he has not decided whether to join BJP or Congress, but would decide soon after consulting his wellwishers, followers and the electorate. It was true that he has got the assurance of tickets for him and his son from BJP. But before deciding anything he wants to consult his voters.

The Congress hasn't promised him ticket from the Chamundeshwari constituency since there are rumours that Siddaramaiah would contest from this constituency once again in 2023 Assembly polls. "I am working out the pros and the cons of joining either BJP or Congress. I will come out with a clear decision in two months,” he added.