Hassan: Two Gowda scions take their families’ legendary political battle into third generation
In the 1980s and 1990s, HD Deve Gowda, the former PM, and G Puttaswamy Gowda, a former minister, dominated the district politics. While the ex-PM was an important leader of the Janata Party and later Janta Dal and now JDS, Gowda had been the local Congress face. Both sported white dhoti and white shirts and were deeply engaged in Hassan district politics. Both enjoyed the backing of Vokkaligas, the second largest community in Karnataka. Both fought for the assembly seat of Holenarasipur before extending their fight in the Hassan Lok Sabha seat.