JD(S) leaders want me to retire: MLA G T Devegowda expresses displeasure with own party members

Mysuru: Chamundeshwari MLA G T Devegowda expressed displeasure against his own party leaders while reacting to the by-election results in Mysuru, on Saturday.

Devegowda, also JD(S) core committee chairman, said that the JD(S) leaders have indicated his retirement by not utilising his services in the just concluded by-election, especially in Channapatna Assembly constituency.

Speaking to media persons in Mysuru on Saturday, Devegowda, who defeated Siddaramaiah in the 2018 Assembly election, said, “Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s family members seem to have decided that only my son G D Harish Gowda, Hunsur MLA, is enough and my politics is enough as I have grown older”.

He admitted that the Congress leaders spoke to him before the 2023 Assembly poll. “But, after that none, including Siddaramaiah contacted me. Now, even the Congress is full of leaders. Even if I get an invitation, I will not join the Congress. I have no space in the BJP-JD(S) coalition also. So, the order of the JD(S) leaders to me seem to be to retire”.

Advising Channapatna JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy not to lose heart due to the defeat, Devegowda said, Nikhil should take it up as a challenge and build the party. “There are examples of those who have lost multiple times and then becoming minister later,” he said.

However, he said, neither the candidate nor his mother or grandfather invited him to campaign in Channapatna. “Looks like they do not need me. There is no rift between me and Kumaraswamy. But, they project the contrary,” he added.