Deve Gowda, son, grandson turn emotional, BJP dubs it 'drama'
Bengaluru, Mar 13: JD(S) patriarch H D DeveGowda Wednesday turned emotional and said he was pained by allegations of dynasty politics against him.
The former prime minister's emotional response was to growing criticism of his family's alleged dynasty politics with JD(S) fielding both his grandsons Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Prajwal Revanna from party bastions of Mandya And Hassan respectively for the Lok Sabha polls.
"...so many allegations, from morning in the media (they talk about) Deve Gowda, Revanna, Kumaraswamy and their sons," Gowda said as he broke down at an event in Hassan to launch the poll campaign of Prajwal Revanna.
Prajwal, son of Gowda's elder son and PWD Minister H D Revanna, is Congress-JDS coalition's candidate from Hassan.
Seeing Gowda wiping tears and speaking in a heavy voice, JD(S) supporters gathered at the event requested him to calm down.
BJP has hit out at Deve Gowda, by calling the emotional episode as "drama".
The event also witnessed both Prajwal and his father Revanna too getting emotional.
Prajwal broke down as Gowda declared him as the candidate and Revanna while MLA Balakrishna was speaking about Gowda not contesting from Hassan this time.
Later speaking to reporters, Gowda said, he was pained by controversy in Mandya against his other grandson and chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil's candidature.
He said, "It was the decision of JD(S) leaders to field Nikil from Mandya. I had not announced.I'm deeply pained, they are saying Nikhil Go Back..."
"...I will go to Mandya... let them shout go back...for whom I fought in last 60 years, I will place everything before the people of Mandya," he added.
Opposition is simmering against Nikhil's candidature in Mandya, as many who claim to be JD(S) supporters have hit out at the party leadership for sidelining loyal party workers to favour someone from their family despite not being actively involved in party activities.
A social media campaign titled "Go back Nikhil" had gained momentum in Mandya a couple of days ago to oppose the "dynasty politics" of the Deve Gowda family.
BJP said: "First Drama for the 2019 elections begins now," as it tweeted videos of Gowda and family getting emotional at the Hassan event.
"If "CRYING" was an art Sri. @H_D_Devegowda & his family would hold the record for mastering the "Art Of Crying"to constantly fool people for decades. Matter of the fact isBefore elections Deve Gowda & his family cries.
Afterelections people who vote this family cries," it said in another tweet.
Chief Minister Kumaraswamy is also prone to sentimental outbursts over coalition troubles.
"Emotions are my weakness. It is in my blood. It is very difficult to control," Kumaraswamy had said last month.
With tears trickling down his cheeks, Kumaraswamy had said in July last year that he was not happy being the chief minister and "I have swallowed poison like Lord Vishakantha (Shiva)."
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IPL allows temporary replacements considering non-availability of a few foreign players
New Delhi, May 14 (PTI): The Indian Premier League on Wednesday allowed teams to make temporary replacements in their squad for the remainder of the tournament considering the non-availability of a few foreign players owing to the forced rescheduling of the event.
IPL had to be suspended last week due to the India-Pakistan military conflict but the announcement of the ceasefire paved the way for its resumption on May 17.
As per the original schedule, the IPL final was to be held on May 25 but now it will take place on June 3, making it trickier for the players who had to report for national duty.
While a few players are not returning due to personal reasons, the likes of Jamie Overton, representing CSK this season, will stay back in the UK for the white-ball series against the West Indies at home.
In an email to franchises which was accessed by PTI, IPL informed the teams of the temporary replacement player option.
"... in the current situation, where we had to temporarily suspend IPL 2025, resulting in its completion beyond the earlier set-out date of May 25, 2025, we have reassessed the Replacement Player provisions.
"Given the non-availability of certain foreign players due to national commitments or personal reasons or any injury or illness, Temporary Replacement Players will be allowed until the conclusion of this tournament.
"This decision is subject to the condition that the Temporary Replacement players taken from this point forward will not be eligible for retention in the following year," IPL said in its note.
As per the IPL Player Regulations 2025-27, players can be replaced if they are injured or ill, provided the injury or illness occurs during or before the 12th league match of the relevant team in that season.
"Temporary Replacement players will have to register for the IPL Player Auction 2026. The replacements which were approved or taken before the suspended period will be eligible for retention ahead of 2026 player auction," the note added.
The rescheduling is likely to impact the preparation of South Africa and Australia for the World Test Championship final beginning at Lord's on June 11.
