The Hindu

Bangalore, Mar 21:  Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Janata Dal (Secular) are believed to be assiduously wooing actor-turned-politician Ambareesh into their respective fold ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has claimed that Ambareesh will give them the “sweet news” on March 29.

Addressing presspersons at the party office here on Friday, Mr. Kumaraswamy said the Janata Dal (Secular) was like “ancestral home” for Ambareesh, who began his political career with the party. “It will be home-coming of sorts for the popular film star,” said Mr Kumaraswamy, who is also the president of the State unit of the Janata Dal (Secular).

Mr. Kumaraswamy said Mr. Ambareesh had sought time to decide on his next political move and has assured to make his stand known on joining the Janata Dal (Secular) by March 29. “I am confident that he will give us sweet news,” he said.

The BJP as well as the Janata Dal (Secular) had held parleys with Mr. Ambareesh, a former Union Minister and three-time MP representing Mandya, who is understood to be disillusioned with the Congress.

Meanwhile, the former Minister R. Krishnappa quit the Congress and joined the Janata Dal (Secular) in the presence of the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Mr. Kumaraswamy at the party office. “I quit the Congress on account of the stifling atmosphere in the party and returned to the Janata Dal (Secular) fold”, said Mr Krishnappa, who had been Minister the erstwhile Janata Dal Government formed after the 1994 polls.

Mr. Kumaraswamy claimed that several leaders from the Congress and the BJP would be joining the Janata Dal (Secular) in the next 10 days.