HASSAN: Two JD(S) legislators – AT Ramaswamy and KM Shivalingegowda – from the district were conspicuous by their absence from the Janatha Jaladhare, the party’s flagship event in the run up to next year’s assembly elections, in Hassan on Thursday.
Both party supremo, former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, and his son, former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, were present at the event on their home turf. It is rumoured that the two JD(S) MLAs are looking to join the Congress and their absence was not lost on either Gowda or Kumaraswamy, who openly criticised the MLAs.
Kumaraswamy attacked the legislators, saying, in politics, one should not backstab anyone. He said during his tenure as CM, he had sanctioned Rs 500 crore for Shivalingegowda’s constituency of Arsikere but the three-time MLA is praising Congress opposition leader Siddaramaiah.
In Arsikere, Shivalingegowda said he has not de- cided whether to quit or stay in JD(S). He attributed his absence due to prior commitments and claimed that he had informed former minister and Gowda’s son HD Revanna that he would not be present.
Asked about the criticism from the brass, which accused him of indulging in “drama”, Shivalingegowda said: “If they call it a drama, then let the people of Karnataka decide. ”
Ramaswamy, a four-time MLA, had opposed decisions taken by Revanna, but refused to react.
