Bangalore: Narendra Modi, the BJP's PM nominee, seems to have generated some sympathy for former prime minister HD Deve Gowda across Karnataka. Addressing an election meeting at a Gowda stronghold of Chikkaballapura near Bangalore, Modi offered assistance to Gowda.
Reacting to a statement of Gowda that he won't be living in Karnataka, if Modi becomes the PM, Modi said, "Deve Gowda is an elderly man. If he wants to quit Karnataka, he can come to Gujarat. I will take care of him. I am also like his son. I can make arrangements for him at an old age home or at a bungalow or at a farm house. He can even stay at my own house. I am also like his sons and will do whatever he wants."
This jibe sparked off an immediate reaction not only from Gowda supporters, but also from other Kannadigas who feel that Gowda, the only Kannadiga to be become the Prime Minister was publicly insulted.
Noted Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde angrily tweeted: "Kannadigas are as miffed with @narendramodi 's jibe on Deve Gowda as Gujaratis wld b at a jibe on Morarjibhai. Not d best PMs but OUR own."
An upset Gowda also hit back at Modi saying that he has four sons and two daughters to take care of him and Modi is a nobody to offer him a shelter. His party JDS is now telling the voters that Modi has insulted a Kannadiga leader and they should take revenge against him by voting against the BJP.
Deve Gowda is the only former prime minister contesting in the current Lok Sabha elections. Perhaps he is the only top political leader in India, who has been contesting in every election since 1962 without a break.
Gowda won 7 Assembly elections between 1962 and 1994. He has also won 5 Lok Sabha elections since 1991 and 2009. Of the total 14 direct elections, he contested; Gowda has so far won 13.
The 82-year-old 'humble farmer' is now seeking one more term from his bastion Hassan in South Karnataka. Wherever he goes, an emotional Gowda tells the voters that it is his last election.
But, it is unlikely that he will have an easy win this time. The Congress has fielded a strong candidate and a sitting MLA A Manju against him. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, one time right hand man of Gowda, wants to defeat his farmer mentor at any cost.
Hassan Lok Sabha seat has a large number of Kuruba votes. Since Siddaramaiah is also a Kuruba, the caste may back the Congress candidate.
The BJP has fielded an 'outsider' CH Vijayashankar from Hassan. A former BJP MP from Mysore, Vijayashankar is a reluctant candidate. Even though he is also a Kuruba, he is not hoping that the Kurubas will back him in large numbers.
But the BJP is eyeing Lingayat votes, which is also substantial in Hassan.
Local political analysts feel that Deve Gowda will have an easy victory this time too. They point out that the Vokkaligas are solidly behind him and the 'sympathy wave' is also helping him this time.
Gowda is liked and loathed in equal measures across Karnataka and in other parts of the country. His fight for the farmers and other issues related to rural areas have made him a cult figure in some parts. He is loathed by city people for his alleged disdain for the urban folk.
After he lost the PM's chair in April 1997, Gowda vowed to come back and avenge the humiliation. He has always been keeping the third front parties happy hoping that they will back him, if both UPA and NDA fail to form the government.
According to a close aide to Gowda, he is hoping that they will at least make him chairman of the third front government, if he fails to manage the PM post. But, his son and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy is making his own calculations. Kumaraswamy, a practical politician is eager to join the NDA government led by Modi, if it comes to power. According to his close aides, he wants to be a Central minister.
Almost all pre-poll surveys have predicted a rout of the JDS. They have given the JDS 1-3 Lok Sabha seats. But, Gowda dismisses these surveys alleging that the media is favouring only the Congress and the BJP.
If Gowda and his son lose this election, it will be very difficult for them to revive the JDS. It will certainly be the end of Gowda era in Karnataka politics. But, it will not be so easy to defeat Gowda, that too in his 'last election'.
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