Deve Gowda Left Out, Congress Decries ‘Humiliation’: What Rajya Sabha Snub Means For JD(U)-BJP Ties

Deve Gowda's Exclusion Signals Tensions in NDA

The Janata Dal (Secular) has remained conspicuously silent about the BJP's decision not to nominate former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda for the Rajya Sabha, highlighting potential rifts within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In a biting tweet, the JD(S) recalled the Congress's past betrayals, stating, "Mr. Vasooliwala RSSurjewala, before commenting on JD(S), remember your party's dark history of betrayal in 1997 when you conspired to oust H.D. Deve Gowda from the Prime Ministership!"

On the final day for nominations, the BJP opted for Prof. (Dr.) M. Nagaraja, a member of the Kuruba community, instead of Gowda, which came as a shock to many. In Karnataka, there are four Rajya Sabha seats, with Congress nominating Mallikarjun Kharge, Pawan Khera, and Mansoor Ali Khan. The JD(S)-BJP coalition had been anticipated to endorse either Gowda or former Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh.

A JD(S) legislator expressed disbelief, stating, “Till late last night, we were expecting that our leader’s (Deve Gowda) name would be announced.” Although Deve Gowda did not explicitly seek a re-nomination, the reaction within his party reflects deep disappointment and surprise over the allies' decision. This rejection marks a significant moment, potentially signaling the end of Deve Gowda's nearly six-decade-long political career and raising questions about the stability of the BJP-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka.

As Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar extends an olive branch to JD(S) members to join Congress, the exclusion of Gowda from the Rajya Sabha, coupled with H.D. Kumaraswamy's commitments in New Delhi, spells trouble ahead for the regional party and its future in the state’s political landscape.