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Deve Gowda and son are consulting numerologists before finalising the list of candidates

Here's a tip for candidates hankering after a JD (S) ticket: It's either in your stars or in your name.

Party chief H D Deve Gowda and his son and working president H D Kumaraswamy are shortlisting candidates on the basis of astrology and numerology, said Gururaja Kulkarni, a numerologist Gowda relies on.

"He called me to help him shortlist candidates as the number of aspirants was high," he said. "I suggested a few things based on numerology."

It may be recalled that Gowda, a firm believer in astrology and rituals, performed pooja at Holenarsipura during the last assembly polls.

Lucky letters

Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy called on the Gulbarga-based Kulkarni last week and asked him to calculate the party's prospects in the coming parliamentary polls.

He was asked to give inputs on candidates' prospects too. Gururaj did so based on the numerological calculations of Gowda's and Kumaraswamy's horoscopes. Apparently, this helped the father and son shortlist candidates.

Kulkarni has suggested that candidates of a certain constituency should have names beginning with a certain letter. For instance, 'R' would work for Raichur and Gulbarga districts.

Meritocracy?

However, aspirants with names that don't adhere to the numerologist's suggestion haven't given up hope yet.

"Though our leaders have consulted numerologists, their words won't be final. We are hopeful that merit and popularity will help," said Narendra Naik, a JD(S) leader from Raichur.

Sources close to Kumaraswamy agreed. "Party leaders consider many aspects before choosing candidates.

Ultimately, it is merit that counts," said K S Kumar, JD(S) cultural wing president and Kumaraswamy's close aide.