Mysuru, 30 Oct

Janata Dal (Secular) drops its strongman GT Devegowda, the core committee chairman, from its list of star campaigners for the upcoming bypolls on Wednesday.

The bypolls in Shiggavi, Channapatna, and Sandur following the resignation of two former chief ministers Basavaraja Bommai, HD Kumaraswamy, and Sandur MLA Tukaram will be held on 13 November.

JD(S) has fielded its candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Kumaraswamy, from the Channapatna constituency where he is fighting against five times MLA, Congress candidate CP Yogeshwar.

Among the 40 members of the list of star campaigners it released, it has also dropped former minister HD Revanna, who is facing legal issues over an alleged sex scandal from its list.

Devegowda is miffed with party leaders maintaining distance from activities after his party leaders refused to make him state JD(S) floor leader. He also came under criticism from its party leaders recently for defending Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the MUDA scam during the inauguration of Naada Habba Dasara celebrations.

Devegowda has also stated that he was not invited to Channapatna campaign after taking darshan at Hasanamba temple in Hassan on Tuesday. Critics say the dropping of Devegowda from the star campaigner list dents it's party prospects in Mysuru. His sidelining would push him toward Congress. -Salar News