The Chief Minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy seems to be continuing the traditions of nurturing dynastic politics just like his father, former Prime Minister HD Devegowda once did. However, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy seems to have hit a wrong note after he reportedly ordered police officials to identify social media users who expressed dissent on social media over his son Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s candidacy from Mandya, reports TV9.
According to local media reports, Chief Minister Kumaraswamy may have issued gag orders to the state police officers and intelligence officers to not only stop people trending ‘Go back Nikhil’ on social media but also to find these social media users who have been expressing their dissent over JDS ‘parachuting’ Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is all set to be made the JDS-Congress joint candidate from Mandya in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
There has been a growing resentment within JDS party over Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s candidacy from Mandya constituency and was reflected with many social media users trending ‘Go Back Nikhil’ while alleging that JDS only meant ‘Just Devegowda and Sons’. As people across the state expressed their opposition to Nikhil Gowda, who had a disastrous acting career and no experience in politics, his father CM Kumaraswamy seems to be angered and has reportedly issued gag orders to find out the people behind these social media trends.
Several posters have gone viral on social media, accusing Janata Dal-Secular of indulging in dynastic politics. One poster openly mocked the Gowda family for its ‘family politics’ saying, ‘If Gowda were to be the captain of the Indian cricket team, the team would be filled with Gowda family members.’
Another poster said that JDS has a ‘Ticket Bhagya Yojana’ in which only family members belong to HD Devegowda were eligible to contest. Similarly, another poster compared Sumalatha to Seetha while referring Revanna as ‘Ravana’.
Irked by the fact that his son has no acceptance among the masses of Mandya, according to a TV9 report, HD Kumaraswamy has ordered to the state intelligence officers to dox social media users and provide details whether they belong to JDS or other political parties.
The trending of ‘Go Back Nikhil’ comes at the backdrop of another senior leader of JDS, HD Revanna resorting to crass remarks against actor-turned-politician Sumalatha over her widowhood, which has resulted in a severe backlash against HD Kumaraswamy and JDS.
HD Revanna, another son of JDS supremo HD Devegowda had questioned Sumalatha’s intent to contest polls just after her husband veteran actor MH Ambareesh’s death. Sumalatha, who is set to contest against Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the son of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy from Mandya- the fortress of JDS, has pushed the party on the back foot leading to HD Revanna making such derogatory statements.
Mandya Lok Sabha constituency is going to be one of the most crucial battles of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, as Sumalatha is challenging JDS in its own fortress. Sumalatha, who has decided to contest from Mandya in the upcoming general elections, enjoys a very good connection with the voters, which has worried the JDS.