Gowda stands alone on Sindhia outburst

BANGALORE: Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda’s caustic remarks against JD(S) state working president P G R Sindhia has not gone well with other leaders and workers.Many senior functionaries who spoke to Express on the condition of anonymity were of the strong view that the party supremo ought not to have spoken against Sindhia, given his seniority in state politics and contribution to the anti-Congress movement in the past. “Instead of castigating him in public, Gowda could have called him [Sindhia] home and discussed the issue,” an office bearer and former legislator told Express.It may be recalled that Gowda, while addressing a party meet at Hubli, expressed displeasure over Sindhia’s lack of interest in the party activities and said he will ask for an explanation from him.“He [Sindhia] is a six-time minister. How can he remain inactive when at this age I am touring? I will call for an explanation, no matter how big and senior one is,” Gowda had said and added, “I want someone who can breathe life into the organisation and not dead wood.” It is true that Sindhia, of late, has not been seen in the party programmes or his name is in the list of the leaders touring the state. He has confided himself to nonpolitical programmes such as book releases and seminars on environment.However, Sindhia is not alone in his unhappiness at the state of affairs in the party.“This is because the entire show - starting from press conferences to addressing the workers - is being managed by Gowda and his two sons, H D Kumaraswamy and H D Revanna. It is only recently that former MP Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal is being encouraged because of two strategic reasons. One, he is anti-Yeddyurappa and second he is a Lingayat from Bijapur,” another leader said.When contacted, Sindhia said, “I have seen the media reports. But I am not aware in what context Gowda made that statement. There must have been a communication gap.”