After Siddaramaiah, Yediyurappa visits ailing Deve Gowda; CM Bommai next

After Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, former chief minister BS Yediyurappa paid a visit to ailing JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda at his residence on Tuesday (September 20).

Yediyurappa met Deve Gowda and inquired about his health. The 90-year-old JD(S) patriarch is said to be suffering from age-related health issues and has not been keeping well for the past few days.

Several leaders across political parties have been visiting his Padmanabhanagar residence to ask about the wellbeing of the JD(S) stalwart. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is scheduled to pay a visit to the ailing politician on Wednesday (September 21).

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Siddaramaiah’s visit to Deve Gowda created ripples in the political circles as it was the second time he met the JD(S) leader after 2016. While political observers and rivals called the visit a ‘political strategy’ by Siddaramaiah, the Congress leader rubbished such speculations, while clarifying that he only met Deve Gowda to enquire about his well-being.

Siddaramaiah told the media that he came to visit the former prime minister after learning that he had health issues and was taking the help of a walker to move around.

“There is no politics, but humanity behind my visit,” he said.

However, sources in the JD(S) said that Deve Gowda’s health is in a good condition except for some minor age-related issues.

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Siddaramaiah, however, prompted leaders from other parties to make a beeline to the ‘power-centre’ at Padmanabhanagar to meet the JD(S) supremo.

Historically, the party has played a crucial role when there is a fractured mandate in the state elections and Deve Gowda is the only leader, whom the Vokkaligas in a large number are backing.