Deve Gowda says he is yet to decide on contesting LS polls
Bengaluru, Mar 19: Maintaining suspense about contesting the Lok Sabha polls, JD(S) patriarch and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda Tuesday said he is yet to decide and been thinking about his 'usefulness' in the national capital.
The 85-year-old leader citing his agesaid he lacked the strength that he had in 1996, when he became the Prime Minister, but there is "enthusiasm".
He also made it clear that the opponent of opposition parties now was the BJP and not the Congress and said he would stand along with Congress president Rahul Gandhi even if he was able to do even a bit for the country under his (Gandhi) leadership.
"From where should I be contesting or not to, I think I have that much of basic freedom to decide.let's decide on it with in a few days, there is no problem. But, I'm thinking to myself about my usefulness in Delhi, I'm watching itI will decide," Gowda said.
Pointing out that in his speech at the last session of Parliament he had indicated it was his last speech, he said, but a few friends had asked him to contest this time.
"I'm yet to decide."
If he decided to contest, he along with coalition leaders, including his son and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Siddaramaiah of Congress will decide on the constituency,he added.
Speculations are rife that Deve Gowda, who has conceded his constituency Hassan to grandson Prajwal Revanna, will contest from either Bangalore North or Tumkur constituency.
His another grandson and Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy is contesting from Mandya Lok Sabha seat, another party bastion.
Three years ago itself he had said he will vacate the Hassan seat for Prajwal in view of his age, Gowda said adding there was was nothing to hide.
"Even while speaking in the Parliament. I spoke fully understanding my strengths," he said, adding he did not have the strength that he had in 1996, when he became the Prime Minister, but there is 'enthusiasm'.
"Our opponents today are not Congress, it is BJP. So if I'm able to do even a bit for this country under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, I can stand along with him Still I have not made up my mind.
"I'm still thinking, From other states also leaders are saying- you are an elderly person, having the experience of governing the country- it is a different matter, we will sit and decide...," he added.
Sections within the Congress have requested JD(S) to give Tumkur seat back to the party, amid simmering discontent within the local leadership about ceding it to the alliance partner.
However, they would not oppose if Gowda himself contests from the seat, party sources said.
Though there is pressure within the JD(S) for Gowda to contest from Bangalore North, the party fears about Congress' complete support there.
The Congress will contest 20 seats and JD(S) eight in the Lok Sabha polls in the state under a deal between the coalition partners finalised last week.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
