S. A. Hemanth
Bengaluru, April 14: “Parable of a prodigal son” was a lesson in the Non-Detailed Text in the middle class for many of us.
The return of Y. S. V. Datta to JDS – his natural habitat – sounds somewhat like the parable of a prodigal son. In any case, Datta is the “Manasa Putra” of former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and his “repentence return” back home fits in with the proverbial parable.
Datta who has undergone the process of organizational mill and ideological churning in the Janata Pariwar starting from 1977 sprang a surprise by joining the Congress, the party which he had been opposing all his political life. Datta is the product of the anti-emergency movement having been a MISA detenue during the draconian emergency.
How, why and what made Datta to desert his “natural habitat” is really inexplicable. His differences with former chief minister H. D. Kumaraswamy was the major reason. Datta himself must answer this question as to what made him to join the Congress.
Datta burnt his fingers in Congress as he was denied ticket in the Grand Old party (GoP) from Kadur in Chickamagalur district. This Janata Pariwar activist leaned and invested heavily on former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah – who is the also the Janata Pariwar product. However, Datta learnt, in a rather hard way, that it was D.K. Shivakumar who called the shots in the Congress.
After hard pleading and bargaining, Datta managed to rejoin JDS and also get a ticket for himself from Kadur. H. D. Revenna has played a major role in getting back Datta to the party and also get him ticket in Kadur. For, Kadur – though in Chickamagalur district – is a part of the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency where Revanna’s son Prajwal Revanna is the sitting MP and will seek re-election in 2024. Datta will have to play a vital role in getting Prajwal re-elected. This “pragmatic” motive of Revanna has clinched the issue in favour of Datta.
Datta, the prodigal son is back “Home” (JDS). Whether he will be back in the “House” (Assembly) only time will tell.
EOM
