Prajwal's 'suitcase' remark was not aimed at me: Kumaraswamy

Bengaluru/Mysuru, Jul 11: JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said his nephew Prajwal Revanna had done nothing wrong and there was no need for him to tender an apology for his “suitcase culture” remark.

Speaking to the media for the first time after Prajwal stated at a party convention that “suitcase culture” was prevalent in the JD(S), Kumaraswamy said, “He (Prajwal) has nowhere stated that he was referring to me.... I do not know what the issue is all about, I have only been reading about it in the media.”

Prajwal, apparently unhappy that he was being denied an opportunity to contest from Hunsur (a constituency of his choice in Mysuru district), had stated that people with wealth get front row seats in the JD(S), while those who are loyal to the party are assigned back row seats.

JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda on Sunday had stated that Kumaraswamy was hurt by the statement and Prajwal has to tender an apology to him. “Suitcase politics did exist in our party and those with suitcases used to sit in the front row...but, now they have left the party,” Kumaraswamy on Monday said, apparently referring to the seven rebel MLAs of the party.

One of the rebel MLAs H C Balakrishna told reporters that Kumaraswamy is giving a twist to Prajwal’s comment to save his own skin. “Kumaraswamy is a hit-and-run politician. He is reacting to Prajwal’s comments after three days. The suitcase containing ‘B’ forms (tickets) to contest polls has always been with the Gowda family,” Balakrishna said.

‘Vishwanath is candidate’

JD(S)  leader MLA from Chamundeshwari G T Devegowda on Monday announced in Mysuru that former minister A H Vishwanath, who recently joined the JD(S), will be the party candidate from Hunsur Assembly constituency in the 2018 election.

It was said that either G T Devegowda or his son G D Harish Gowda would contest from Hunsur, which had been represented by the former a couple of times in the past.

G T  Devegowda announced the candidature of Vishwanath at a programme organised to welcome the former vice chancellor of University of Mysore K S Rangappa into the party fold. The MLA promised to work for the victory of Vishwanath and said, “I and my son and also Prajwal, the son of H D Revanna, who were aspirants for the JD(S) ticket from Hunsur, will work for Vishwanath’s victory.”

JD(S) president H D Deve Gowda said the Assembly elections would be advanced and the state government is preparing for the polls in November.

Prajwal's 'suitcase' remark was not aimed at me: HDK