The house, which Gowda was occupying before he became PM in 1996, is considered lucky by the family. The housewarming follows renovation of the houe and vaastu changes made on the advice of an astrologer. As Naidu came calling on Thursday, Gowda’s son and Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy declared that the 2019 Lok Sabha polls would be a repeat of 1996. In 1996 too, Naidu had played a pivotal role in bringing together parties under the Congress-backed alliance which made Gowda PM.
"By god’s grace, my physical and mental faculties are efficient. That may not be the only eligibility to become PM," Gowda told TOI before leaving for Dubai.
Gowda has experience to be PM again: JD(S) president
That said, Gowda has indicated his hat is in the ring for now. On June 21 — National Yoga Day — Gowda performed asanas in front of dozens of cameras, in a riposte to the fitness challenge PM Modi posed to Kumaraswamy. JD(S) sources said it was meant to send a message he was fit both mentally and physically to shape national politics, notwithstanding his age.
The JD(S) cadre, upbeat from the recent bypoll results in Karnataka, are confident of the party playing a major role in the 2019 polls. Insiders say Gowda’s chances are bright. “It’s the season of coalition politics and Gowda has both eligibility and experience to occupy the seat. Although it was a short tenure, the 11 months he was PM can be rated among the best,” JD(S) president H Vishwanath said.
The rising confidence stems from Congress’ recent stand that the party must put up a PM candidate only if it wins enough seats barring which it would support one of its coalition partners for PM.
Rajiv Gandhi supported Chandra Shekhar for PM in 1990 and the Congress leadership backed Deve Gowda in 1996. This time, the coalition has other PM aspirants too – Bengal CM and Trinamoolchief Mamata Banerjee and Naidu, to mention just two.
However, TDP spokesperson LVSRK Prasad said: “Naidu has made it clear he is not in the race for PM and that he is open to any one of the partners, including DMK’s MK Stalin (for PM), as he stated on Saturday. The focus is to ensure an alliance that can defeat BJP.”
Andhra Pradesh finance minister and senior TDP leader Yenamala Ramakrishnudu said: “Our objective is to be the facilitator in national politics and build a strong platform against BJP and Modi. We’ve absolutely no aspirations for the PM’s seat. As in the past when AB Vajpayee or Deve Gowda became prime ministers, Naidu wants to play just an anchor role even now.”
from Times of India https://ift.tt/2AZa0Dl
