Prodigal takes charge

Karanataka strongman Deve Gowda is gearing up for the forthcoming state poll and is confident that the JD(S) will play a decisive role in the formation of the next government. Gowda’s son H.D. Kumaraswamy has already started a whirlwind campaign tour and with his father’s blessings is being tacitly projected as the JD(S)’s chief ministerial candidate. Which is a bit surprising, considering that Deve Gowda once disowned Kumaraswamy and dubbed him as politically immature and inexperienced compared to his favourite son H.D. Revanna. Despite his known soft spot for Revanna, Gowda seems to have accepted that the impulsive and hot-tempered Revanna is not a popular choice.