Mysuru: “For the last ten years, I have dedicated myself to the Janata Dal (S) party by conducting several programmes in the Chamaraja Constituency. I have decided that if the party refuses to give me a ticket to contest in the forthcoming assembly elections, I will contest as an independent candidate from the Chamaraja Constituency”, said a disappointed city JD(S) President K Harish Gowda.
It seems like nothing is going well for the JD(S) in the Chamaraja Constituency. Harish Gowda, an aspirant of the JD(S) party for the Chamaraja constituency back in 2013 and someone having a good connection with the people in the constituency, sacrificed his ticket at the last minute to the newly initiated and former BJP leader H S Shankarlingegowda. Harish has again been called upon to sacrifice his ticket to another newly initiated K S Rangappa (former Vice Chancellor of University of Mysore). If Harish does contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming elections, it will be a major jolt to the JD(S) party.
Speaking to NewsKarnataka, Harish said, “In the last assembly election, I worked a lot for the party and the senior leaders assured me that they would provide me a ticket to represent the Chamaraja constituency. After H S Shankarlingegowda had joined the party at the last minute, after having quit the BJP, they wanted me to give up my ticket saying that Shankarlingegowda had won in the Chamaraja constituency four times previously. Once I saw his success and got the assurance from the senior party leaders, I happily gave up my ticket. And now they want me to sacrifice my ticket again, to K S Rangappa who joined the party just three months prior and hasn’t done much for the Chamaraja constituency.”
He added that sincere leaders like himself, who have dedicated both their lives and family for the welfare and progress of the party seem to get no justice or scope. “I have conducted many programmes including mass marriages, free health check-up camps and job melas in the constituency. I am very disappointed with the party leader’s decision”, he lamented, adding that there was no scope for honesty and loyalty in the party.
Taking solace in the fact that the people in the constituency were still with him he said, “The party leaders might have cheated me but the people will never cheat me. Over the last few days, people have been gathering at my house to offer their support after learning about the developments in the party. They are with me and I am confident of winning if I contest independently.”
He also added that even though they were afraid of the party leaders, the corporators would support him.
