Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, May 8: State minister for water resources, D K Shivakumar, extended a blanket invitation to BJP lawmakers and other leaders to join his party, the Congress. He observed that many in the BJP are waiting to cross over to other parties.

Shivakumar said that some of the MLAs too are prepared to quit BJP and join his party and they are in constant contact with with his party leaders. He claimed that a large number of BJP workers too are frustrated with the saffron party and hence eager to join the Congress. "I extend an open invitation to those who are interested, to join the Congress. This is a golden chance for them," he said, speaking to reporters here on Tuesday May 7.

On the claim of BJP leaders that the state will witness a sea change in political scenario after May 23, he said that the change would be in the form of an invigorated coalition government.

Shivakumar, who is in-charge of bypoll to Kundagol assembly constituency, said that all activities and developments related with this bypoll are being reported to former chief minister and coalition coordination committee chairman, Siddaramaiah, on a daily basis. Commenting on Yeddyurappa's claim that Siddaramaiah was being overlooked by the coalition leaders, Shivakumar wanted to know what the BJP state president had done to Jagadish Shettar. He noted that BJP has heaped praises on the then minister for municipal administration, C S Shivalli, who was representing Kundagol constituency, on his demise. He reasoned that the BJP therefore, was expected to support the candidature of Shivalli's wife, Kusuma Shivalli, in the Kundagol bypoll, and wondered why it has put up its own candidate against her.

Noting that Shivalli was a statesman who died within three months of having been made a minister, Shivakumar said that the late minister's wife is now determined to continue with the good work of her husband.