HD Kumaraswamy is one of the key candidates contesting in this general election. The Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. The JD(S) is in alliance with the BJP in Karnataka. As he asserts confidence of a win, their campaign was marred in the later phases of the seven phase-long polling exercise due to now suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna's alleged sexual abuse scandal.