Mandya: Former Indian revenue service (IRS) officer seems to be betrayed by the JD(S), not once, but twice. The party earlier promised Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda the MP ticket, but later announced MLC LR Shivarame Gowda as the candidate for Mandya Lok Sabha by-election in Karnataka.

Gowda was earlier made to resign with the promise a ticket from Nagamangala Assembly during the recent state election in May. However, she has once again been denied a ticket by the JD(S).

"I am shocked by this sudden change. Last time, during MLA elections,  they (party chief HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy) promised to field me from Nagamangala. This time again, they assured me the Mandya seat for Lok Sabha by-election, but the party has changed its decision," said a shocked Ashwin Gowda. However, she said that despite she being ignored by the party time and again, she will still campaign for Shivrame Gowda.

"I was thinking like a civil servant and I worked for the party. Now, I will have to shift gears and think like a politician and prove my point at the right time," Ashwin Gowda said.

JD(S) leader and Bengaluru city president, R Prakash said that these things are common. "Here, in JD(S), the party has gone by the winning formula. The decision is taken," he said. 

Sympathising with Ashwini Gowda for being dumped by the JD(S), BJP said, whoever believes in Deve Gowda's party will eventually get cheated and Ashwini Gowda can be added to that list.

"JD(S) is a family party where only HD Deve Gowda and his son HD Kumaraswamy are deciding factors. The decisions are always taken at home, not in their party office. Shivarame Gowda, who was out of politics for 25 years, switched to BJP and Congress at his own convenience. Now, since he has money, he has joined the JD(S) to get some mileage. He was preferred at the cost of an honest IRS officer like Ashwini Gowda," said Vaman Acharaya, BJP spokesperson.

Congress, which is supporting JD(S) in Mandya, refused to comment on the development.