Bengaluru, Oct 26 (IANS): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday said many leaders from the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) have switched to the grand old party.

Shivakumar, who is also the president of the Congress' Karnataka unit, said "many have joined the Congress party after rejecting the BJP and the JD-S".

He was speaking after welcoming former JD-S legislator Shafi Ahmad, and JD-S leaders from Shivamogga district at Bharat Jodo Bhavan in Bengaluru.

"The number of leaders joining Congress is increasing day after day. Today, about 150 leaders will be joining the Congress... they must be actively involved in party and work," he said.

Slamming former Karnataka chief minister and JD-S Floor Leader H.D. Kumaraswamy, the deputy Karnataka CM said: "Kumaraswamy says he is confined to the state but pursues different kinds of politics. When five guarantees were introduced, many opinions came forward. Through the free travel for women scheme, the number of devotees to religious places is increasing.

"We have implemented the schemes as a model in the country," he said.