Another Devegowda relative emerges with CM’s blessing
Siddu’s OK to reserve ZP prez/VP posts for women could pave way for Bhavani Revanna’s rise
One nod from chief minister Siddaramaiah could have a long-lasting effect on not just state politics, but on politics within former prime minister HD Devegowda’s family.
The state is all set to announce reservation for the posts of zilla panchayat presidents and vice presidents. JD(S) is all set to come to power in Hassan ZP, after winning 23 of 40 seats (Congress won 16). Reserving the prime post for women will facilitate HD Revanna’s wife Bhavani’s elevation to the post of ZP president for the next five years.
Revanna is leaving no stones unturned to make this happen since it will create a power centre parallel to that of his brother and bête noire, HD Kumaraswamy, whose popularity within the party is on the wane.
A party insider told BM that Bhavani had been denied ticket on at least three occasions in past. JD(S) lost the recent MLC polls in its stronghold - Hassan, to Congress. The party member attributed this to the dissent among party workers, who had anticipated a ticket for Bhavani. “Finally, she got the ticket in the recent ZP polls, and won. Now, she is the forerunner for the post of president,” he told BM.
Ravenna plays safe
Another party member observed that while Kumaraswamy was going all out against the Siddaramaiah in the recent hullaballoo over the CM’s Hublot, Revanna had been playing it safe without making any comments. It is a known fact in political circles that Revanna shares a good bond with the CM. “Now, after Bhavani’s emerging victorious in the recent ZP polls, he is said to have met the CM twice over the reservations,” another leader explained. Bhavani, who has been very active in her party’s politics, has been managing Devegowda’s polls, and is backed by a certain section of leaders in the party.
Manju is the man
Hassan district in-charge minister A Manju, of the Congress, ensured victory his party leader MA Gopalaswamy in the December MLC polls. Sources say the chief minister may not be able to bypass Manju, who is against anyone from Devegowda’s family coming to power. “Manju has been entrusted with the task of reviving Congress’s prospects in Hassan, where his son, too, has won. Bhavani’s becoming president could prove detrimental to him,” a senior Congress leader said.
One nod from chief minister Siddaramaiah could have a long-lasting effect on not just state politics, but on politics within former prime minister HD Devegowda’s family.
The state is all set to announce reservation for the posts of zilla panchayat presidents and vice presidents. JD(S) is all set to come to power in Hassan ZP, after winning 23 of 40 seats (Congress won 16). Reserving the prime post for women will facilitate HD Revanna’s wife Bhavani’s elevation to the post of ZP president for the next five years.
All-out effort
Revanna is leaving no stones unturned to make this happen since it will create a power centre parallel to that of his brother and bête noire, HD Kumaraswamy, whose popularity within the party is on the wane.
A party insider told BM that Bhavani had been denied ticket on at least three occasions in past. JD(S) lost the recent MLC polls in its stronghold - Hassan, to Congress. The party member attributed this to the dissent among party workers, who had anticipated a ticket for Bhavani. “Finally, she got the ticket in the recent ZP polls, and won. Now, she is the forerunner for the post of president,” he told BM.
Ravenna plays safe
Another party member observed that while Kumaraswamy was going all out against the Siddaramaiah in the recent hullaballoo over the CM’s Hublot, Revanna had been playing it safe without making any comments. It is a known fact in political circles that Revanna shares a good bond with the CM. “Now, after Bhavani’s emerging victorious in the recent ZP polls, he is said to have met the CM twice over the reservations,” another leader explained. Bhavani, who has been very active in her party’s politics, has been managing Devegowda’s polls, and is backed by a certain section of leaders in the party.
Manju is the man
Hassan district in-charge minister A Manju, of the Congress, ensured victory his party leader MA Gopalaswamy in the December MLC polls. Sources say the chief minister may not be able to bypass Manju, who is against anyone from Devegowda’s family coming to power. “Manju has been entrusted with the task of reviving Congress’s prospects in Hassan, where his son, too, has won. Bhavani’s becoming president could prove detrimental to him,” a senior Congress leader said.
