Gowda will not contest 2019 Polls but his grandson may contest in his place

BENGALURU: Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda said he will not be contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.nnThe Janata Dal Secular president also indicated that his grandson Prajwal Revanna may contest in his place from Hassan, if public decides and no other senior leaders of the party was willing to take it up.nn”I have decided not to contest for parliament (election), I have asked all leaders from our district if they would like to contest for parliament. They will be given first preference,” Gowda told reporters in Hassan.nnPointing out that several party leaders have expressed their unwillingness, he said “What should I do, I have completed 85 years (age).”nn”My honest opinion is that I want to send Prajwal Revanna to parliament, but people will decide.”nn”Prajwal is educated and has the capability, but some times he easily gets upset, it is common..,” he added.nnPrajwal, son of Gowda’s elder son and senior JD(S) leader H D Revanna, who was until recently involved in party activities as a worker in Hassan district, the family’s home turf, was in November appointed state general secretary.nnThe appointment was then seen as a push to the political aspirations of Prajwal, who has been openly demanding a party ticket for the May 12 assembly elections.nnGowda, however, has repeatedly maintained that only two members from his family – Revanna and Kumaraswamy – will be contesting the polls, in an attempt to wipe out the “father-sons party” label attached to the JD(S).nnDespite Kumaraswamy, JDS state chief and Gowda’s other son, also reiterating the stand on the number of family members contesting on the party’s ticket, mixed signals are being sent out from within the family.nnUntil recently, Anita, Kumaraswamy’s wife, had also reportedly expressed her interest in contesting from Channapatna, from where she lost the last time, if the party leadership agrees to it.