GT Deve Gowda is conspicuous by his absence at the JD(S) meeting in Chamundeshwari

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday (May 17) at a Janarondige Janata Dal rally in Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysuru. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Senior JD(S) leader GT Deve Gowda was not present at the Janarondige Janata Dal convention held in Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysuru on Sunday (May 17). Represents a constituency.

Mr GT Deve Gowda, who has been away from party programs and leadership for about two years now, visited former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda at his residence in Bengaluru on Friday (May 15), three days before the JD(S) supremo’s birthday and two days before the convention.

This visit, along with Mr GT Deve Gowda’s public declaration that he will contest again in 2028 as the JD(S) candidate from Chamundeshwari, has irked several party leaders in Mysuru.

Although former minister SR Mahesh expressed his disappointment over Mr GT Deve Gowda’s “opportunistic” policies, he said that the party will accept Chamundeshwari MLA if the party leadership issues such instructions.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy was forced to assure party workers at the convention that there was no confusion in the party.

However, he made it clear that Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency was a JD(S) stronghold because of the people of the constituency and not because of any single personality, indirectly referring to Mr GT Deve Gowda.

Making it clear that he has a special relationship with the constituency since the 2006 by-polls, Mr Kumaraswamy said the JD(S) did not win the constituency during the last three consecutive elections because of some “one person”.

He said that the Janarondige Janata Dal convention was organized at Chamundeshwari by Harish Gowda, son of Mr. GT Deve Gowda and Hunsur MLA, under the leadership of Mr. Mahesh.

Without naming Mr GT Deve Gowda, Mr Kumaraswamy said he would not allow any confusion in the constituency. “I know what decision to take. The party will take the decision considering the mindset of the party workers,” he said, adding that the party would not tolerate any disrespect to party workers or succumb to any pressure.

Mr. Kumaraswamy promised to protect Chamundeshwari as a JD(S) stronghold with the help of honest and dedicated party workers.

Published – 17 May 2026 20:50 IST