The Hindu
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri

Udupi, Mar 28: Zilla Panchayat member from Congress party B.N. Shankar Poojary joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a meeting here on Friday. The meeting was organised to mark the inauguration of BJP’s election office for the Udupi-Chikmagalur parliamentary constituency.

Mr. Shankar Poojary, who had served as president of Udupi Zilla Panchayat till 18 months ago, joined the BJP, under “Operation Kamala”.

Mr. B.N. Shankar Poojary said he was joining the BJP because he was dissatisfied with the Congress. He said that he would submit his resignation to the membership of the zilla panchayat on Saturday.

Congress reaction

President of Udupi Zilla Panchayat and Congress leader Raju Poojary said that the Congress party had given all opportunities to Mr. Shankar Poojary to grow in the party.

It had earlier made him the president of Udupi taluk panchayat. He was given the opportunity to serve as president of Udupi Zilla Panchayat for 20 months, he said.

General secretary of district unit of BJP Tingale Vikramarjuna Hegde said that Mr. Shankar Poojary’s joining the BJP would help the party in the rural areas of Udupi, especially Perdoor and surrounding villages.

With Mr. Shankar Poojary joining the BJP, the strength of the Congress party came down to 13 in the Udupi Zilla Panchayat, which has 25 seats in it. The rest of the seats are held by the BJP.

Mr. Shankar Poojary joined the BJP in the presence of Home Minister V.S. Acharya and President of State BJP unit D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

Congress leader and former Udupi Taluk Panchayat member Dhananjay Amin and Janata Dal (Secular) leader K.G.K. Achar also joined the BJP on Friday.