The Hassan Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka is witnessing a high-octane contest between NDA candidate Prajwal Revanna, who is from the JDS, and Congress’s Shreyas Patel. It is battle royal where both Prajwal and Shreyas are grandsons of two fierce political opponents, former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and former Karnataka minister late G Puttaswamy Gowda. Taking this political rivalry to the third generation, the two grandsons are battling it out on Hassan’s grounds to gain control over the seat.
Prajwal Revanna is impressed not only by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership qualities, but he also finds similarities between him and his grandfather HD Deve Gowda.
“As a young parliamentarian, what impresses me is what I see in the two biggest leaders in the NDA, PM Modi and Deve Gowda. I see a lot of Deve Gowda ji in the Prime Minister. Both have an immense amount of patience. Modi sir does not comment on anything. He is so sensible when he talks and does not offend anybody, and even the Opposition says he is the best. Modi has not only won Indian hearts, he has also won the hearts of the Opposition, and I am an example of it,” said Prajwal in an exclusive interview with News18.
As part of the understanding between the BJP and JDS alliance in Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Hassan seat has been given to the JDS to contest. Prajwal is seeking re-election for the seat, having been the lone JDS MP from Karnataka. In 2019, the Hassan LS seat had been represented by Deve Gowda, but the senior leader, at the last minute, shifted his seat to Tumkur, making way for Prajwal to contest from this safe seat.
Speaking about his performance as an MP, Prajwal feels he has been able to win the hearts and votes of the people for Hassan. Calling the Congress guarantees an “utter failure”, he also called the party one that has been taking the taxpayers’ money away.
Supporting BJP’s manifesto, which speaks of One Nation, One Election, Prajwal pointed fingers at the Congress for disregarding taxpayers’ money, even when it comes to doling out welfare schemes. He added that Modi’s vision has been that taxpayers’ money should not go invalid.
“Split elections” started after UPA I, he said. “Every election that we are facing today is a burden on the country’s revenue. Taxpayers’ money is being spent, and elected representatives are responsible for it. We need to spend it efficiently. Congress does not have an issue in spending taxpayers’ money, they have no regard for taxpayers’ money as well. The Congress doesn’t think twice about how people are suffering. Be it the “stupid” guarantees that they are providing in Karnataka,” Prajwal reacted.
Shreyas Patel, who is Prajwal’s opponent, has been seeking people’s votes in a rather emotional campaign. Patel speaks of how his grandfather and mother faced defeat at the hands of the Gowdas but did not deserve so as they had worked hard on the ground and have been there with the people of Hassan. On a question about how this is not just a political battle, but one between families, Prajwal called it a non-issue, saying that the political rivalry between Puttaswamy Gowda and Deve Gowda was in different times.
“Those circumstances were different; people understand better now. They are more discerning and have the knowledge and understanding. They have seen the region grow under Deve Gowda—what has been done in terms of infrastructure, education, women, in Hassan,” he said.
He also questioned Congress’ contribution to Hassan. “There was absolutely zero contribution from the Puttegowda family side to Hassan. We are not talking about family politics this time. People say that the JDS and BJP have always been progressive parties, but Congress has only pointed fingers. What has been Congress’s contributions to Hassan in the last 30 to 40 years? I want an answer to that first,” Prajwal questioned.
Prajwal adds that the Lok Sabha elections are a “direct fight between Modi, who is for our country’s development, and those who are trying to taint the name of the PM and the BJP.”
The Congress has been attacking the JDS in Karnataka by calling it an opportunistic party that would align with any party that would bring them to power. They also call the JDS a “classic example of dynastic politics.”
“Tell me how many from NDA alliance come from a family in politics? Maybe one to two including me. But in the Congress, more than 18 of the 28 candidates they are fielding are dynasts,” he said.
“In Hassan, let me tell you, the karyakartas have lost hope with the Congress,” the Hassan MP added.
Like in neighbouring Tumkur where there is rebellion within the BJP, in Hassan, too, BJP leader Preetham Gowda has refrained from campaigning in favour of the JDS. Prajwal has called it untrue.
“Preetham Gowda is already campaigning for me. The ultimate goal is that we all want Modi at the Centre. I won’t say there is no rebellion here; we are united to make Modi PM. I will assure this seat will be a gift to Narendra Modi,” the JDS MP said.
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