Mangaluru, May 27: Fiza group proprietor and Bearys Welfare Association President, BM Farooq remained a frontrunner for the Rajya Sabha ticket from the Janata Dal (Secular) even as the party chief HD Deve Gowda is all set to finalise a Muslim candidate.
Mr Gowda's move could well tantamount to killing two birds with one stone. By picking a Muslim candidate, he would not only succeed in checkmating rebel MLA Zameer Ahamed Khan, but also an attempt to send a strong message to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who has been projecting himself as messiah of the poor and the downtrodden.
The brother of Mangaluru City North Congress MLA BA Mohiuddin Bava, who has been in touch with the JD(S) leaders for the last nine days, says that the future belongs to regional parties.
“A good opportunity has come along. I want to do something good for the state, country and especially my community. HD Kumaraswamy has been a good friend of mine for the last seven to eight years. And now Deve Gowda has given his consent,” he said.
Mr Farooq is a BE (Mechanical) and also has a MBA (marketing) degree. He is the CMD of Fiza Developer and Inter-Trade Pvt Ltd, which commissions wind energy projects. He is a joint developer with realty majors like Prestige and Godrej Properties. One of the major projects completed by his group is Forum Fiza mall in Mangaluru. His group also owns the cricket team Mangalore United in the Karnataka Premier League.
"From my party (there are) no aspirants other than me," he fumed. "If I am not (a) candidate then it is some moneybag."
On the other hand, Mr Kumaraswamy, denied charges that they have auctioned the seat to Mr Farooq.
But the disagreement between a few JD(S) leaders after Thursday's meeting has led to the party deferring the announcement of Mr Farooq's name. Some say this is only a formality, meant to give him more time to 'manage' extra legislators from other parties.
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