Congress poaches GT Deve Gowda’s men before 2023 Assembly polls

Shyam Sundar Vattam I NT

Mysuru: Just days after Chamundeshari MLA G.T. Devegowda decided to stay back in the Janata Dal (Secular) following pressure from the party national president and former Prime Minister H.D.Deve Gowda, the Congress Party has poached a number of JD(S) leaders who had helped in the victory of the MLA in the 2018 Assembly polls.

Till recently, the MLA wanted to quit the JD(S) and join another party. Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah was ready to welcome Devegowda who had trounced him in Chamundeshwari constituency in the previous Assembly elections promising a ticket for him but not for his son, G.D.Harish Gowda.

But senior JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy sent his emissary and K.R.Nagar MLA Sa.Ra.Mahesh to Devegowda to break the ice and make him stay back in the JD(S). The JD(S) finally achieved success when party supremo HD Devegowda himself met the MLA to appeal to him to stay back in the party and to forget the past.

That emotional card played by the former PM made the MLA stay back in the JD(S). However, undeterred district Congress leaders at the instance of Siddaramaiah successfully poached a group of JD(S) leaders who were close to Devegowda aand had helped him to win against Siddaramaiah in 2018.

These leaders shocked everyone on Thursday by announcing their decision to quit the JD(S) accusing Devegowda of sidelining them. With this, Devegowda is left alone in the battlefield and will have to work hard in case he has to win the crucial 2023 Assembly polls. It has also given a chance to Siddaramaiah to take sweet revenge against Devegowda for his defeat in Chamundeshwari in 2018.