Will ensure Nikhil's victory in Mandya, says sitting MP

MANDYA/MYSURU: JD(S) leader and MP from Mandya, L R Shivarame Gowde, on Tuesday said that he was not upset with the party's decision to replace him at Mandya. Though he could represent the constituency only for a short period, he would sacrifice the segment for Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.

Shivarame Gowda was elected from Mandya in a bypoll held on November 6, 2018.

Speaking to reporters at Bellur in Nagamangala taluk, Shivarame Gowda said he initially wanted to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Mandya. "Who doesn't want power? But as my leader Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil has evinced interest to contest from Mandya, I will work for his victory. I am not disappointed, and will ensure that Nikhil will win with a huge margin," he said.

However, Shivarame Gowda said he has confidence in JD(S) chief H D Deve Gowda of giving him responsible position in the government. "We have over 30 days for polling and during this period the entire situation will turn in favour of Nikhil," he said.

As both Congress and JD(S) have joined hands, Congress leader N Chaluvarayaswamy must also support JD (S), he said.

Deve Gowda should tell Revanna to apologise: KSE

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa on Tuesday sought to support Sumalatha, asking whether public works minister HD Revanna isn't ashamed of his comments against the actor.

He asked former PM H D Deve Gowda to direct his party leader to issue a public apology. If he cannot do that, Gowda should change the symbol of his party and replace it with some animal, he said referring to the JD(S) symbol of a woman carrying haystack.

Pointing out that it was chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy besides the JD(S) state unit chief Adagooru H Vishwanath who have apologised for Revanna's comments, Eshwarappa said: "What is stopping the minister from tendering an apology? Does he not know how to say sorry?"

Eshwarappa took a dig at Gowda for promoting Nikhil and Prajwal Revanna in politics saying he would have fielded his family members in all the 28 Lok Sabha seats if he were allowed.

The former deputy CM said the party is aiming to win 20-24 Lok Sabha seats in the general polls and said people are gung-ho about PM Narendra Modi . He called as "petty" regional parties, which have ganged up against Modi.