Deve Gowda’s term in Rajya Sabha coming to an end in June sets off speculation over future of his six-decade politics

There is speculation about the political future of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, nonagenarian politician known for his acumen and survival instincts in over six decades of his career, with the the ongoing Parliament session being the last in his current term.

In June, the Janata Dal (Secular) supremo and the lone member from his party in the Rajya Sabha, is set to end his term and the regional party does not have the numbers to secure his re-election. This is the second tenure of Mr. Gowda in the Rajya Sabha after the first stint in 1996 when he was the 11th Prime Minister.

Eyes on BJP

All eyes are now on the BJP, the JD(S)’s ally in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that is likely, with its number in the Legislative Assembly, to win one seat. The Congress has the potential to win three of the four seats.

Another veteran leader, Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, is also among the four who are retiring from Karnataka.

The BJP-JD(S) have 84 votes, including 18 of the JD(S), assuring one seat to the alliance. Two of the BJP members have turned rebels and are seen in the Congress’s camp.  

Many JD(S) sources The Hindu reached out to said that Mr. Gowda was yet to spell out his future plans. “If he wishes to remain in the Rajya Sabha, he may speak to the top BJP leaders directly. Many seniors at the national level also want him to remain in the Rajya Sabha. His health and age should also permit him to meaningfully contribute to the discussions,” a party source said.

In active politics

Mr. Gowda has often said that he plans to remain in active politics till his end to strengthen the party.

The passage to the Rajya Sabha in 2020 was made smooth for Mr. Gowda with the support of the Congress, with Sonia Gandhi playing an active role, though the JD(S) did not have numbers then too.

This followed his defeat as the JD(S)-Congress alliance candidate from Vokkaliga stronghold of Tumakuru in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections after he vacated the Hassan seat to his grandson Prajwal Revanna. The Congress-JD(S) coalition government had fallen earlier in July, 2019. Incidentally, the JD(S) entered into an alliance with the BJP in 2023, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Mr. Gowda, who has also served as Chief Minister between 1994 and 1996, entered the Legislative Assembly in 1962 and has been actively involved in politics at the State and the national level. He was an important leader in the Third Front formation before his party aligned with the BJP.

Beyond numbers

A JD(S) source argued that though they were in a disadvantageous situation in terms of numbers, the stature of the former Prime Minister brings value to the NDA. “He has also remained a towering figure of the Vokkaligas in Karnataka, a community that the BJP has so far failed to penetrate well,” he underlined.

Multiple BJP sources said that the matter has not come up for discussion and one source said that the party’s candidate for the Rajya Sabha could be discussed later this month. Another BJP source said that the party was likely to nominate a person, who could - based on caste or regional combination - bring political dividends.

“With or without the Rajya Sabha membership, Mr. Gowda’s stature does not diminish. Re-nomination is a sensitive issue that needs to be handled carefully. We don’t know what the Prime Minister would decide eventually.”