From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Mar 22: In a significant boost to the Congress and perhaps a big blow to the JDS, sitting JDS MLC Maritibbegowda, who had resigned from the party protesting against the alliance with BJP in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, joined Congress party along with hundreds of his followers at the KPCC office on Friday.
Along with Maritibbegowda, another Mandya leader and former JDS MLC N Appajigowda has also joined Congress party.
Mandya Zilla Panchayat former President Venkatesh, member Yogesh, Manjunatth Gowda and Asha Suresh, BJP leader from Rajarajeshwari Assembly constituency have joined the Congress party.
As if to signify the importance of the joining of very influential leaders from Mandya district, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy and AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala had assembled at the State Congress office to welcome the new entrants.
Apart from the top leadership of the Congress party in the State, MLCs Saleem Ahmed and B K Hariprasad, Congress MLCs Uday, Ravi Ganiga and MLC Dinesh Gooligowda were among the other prominent party leaders who had assembled at the KPCC office.
Significantly, the Congress party’s Mandya Lok Sabha candidate Venkatramana Gowda (Star Chandru) were present to welcome the new entrants.
With JDS aligning with BJP for the Lok Sabha polls, and the JDS likely to contest Hassan, Mandya and Kolar out of the 28 seats leaving the remaining 25 to BJP, the desertion of some of the key leaders from JDS ahead of the elections will definitely be a big boost to Congress while dealing a blow to JDS.
It may be recalled that in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Sumalatha Ambarish, widow of Kannada rebel star Ambarish, had contested as an independent with BJP support and had won against JDS supremo H D Deve Gowda’s grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy from JDS. The former Prime Minister as well as his son H D Kumaraswamy had campaigned vigorously in favour of Nikhil Kumaraswamy but to no avail.
In the ensuing elections, JDS is likely to field Kumaraswamy from Mandya despite stiff resistance from Sumalatha, who is also keen on contesting on BJP ticket.
Incidentally, Deve Gowda’s son-in-law and noted cardiologist Dr C N Manjunatth is contesting from Bengaluru Rural constituency against the sitting Congress MP D K Suresh, younger brother of KPCC chief D K Shivakumar.