Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar (SP)

Karwar, Feb 13: JD(S) state working president, Madhu Bangarappa, whose political ambitions have not been fulfilled, will soon head for the Congress in search of greener pastures, sources have said. It is said that he may take with him other JD(S) leaders from Uttara Kannada district, like former minister Anand Asnotikar, JD(S) leader from Ramakrishna Hegde's family, Dr Shashibhushan Hegde, and zilla panchayat member, Pradeep Nayak. If the sources are to be believed, they have made up their mind to cross over to the Congress along with Madhu Bangarappa. A district-level Congress leader confirmed that all the things have been finalised and worked out after mutual discussions at Delhi.

Madhu Bangarappa

Madhu Bangarappa was lying low after the crushing defeat he suffered in the previous Lok Sabha election, as he was unhappy with the JD(S) leadership. For the last some months, rumour mills were busy predicting about Madhu joining the Congress, but there was no official confirmation. Madhu Bangarappa, who often expressed his dissatisfaction about the JD(S) leaders, stayed aloof from issuing clarification about these rumours. The JD(S) leaders too had just said that Madhu would be convinced to stay put with the party.

Now, in a new development, Madhu Bangarappa paid a visit to the residence of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, D K Shivakumar and held discussions with him. Shivakumar has already confirmed that Madhu would be joining the Congress during the next week.

Before meeting Shivakumar, Madhu Bangarappa had met top Congress leaders, it is said. It is gathered that Madhu Bangarappa and Anand Asnotikar had held discussions with Rahul Gandhi. The leaders have also sought positions of eminence in the Congress once they cross over, and Rahul Gandhi has orally agreed to this demand. Sources say that Shivakumar, who is busy with organizing his daughter's marriage scheduled for February 14, has asked Madhu to wait till the marriage is over.

Anand Asnotikar is said to be aspiring to fight the next assembly election from Karwar constituency from the Congress. He had joined the Congress, and then left the party midway with the hope of becoming a minister in the BJP government. But he was defeated in the bypoll after which he had joined the JD(S). He had fought assembly and Lok Sabha elections thereafter but faced debacle. He tried to join the BJP but could not. Finally he will be going back to the Congress, it is being said now.

Dr Shashibhushan had joined the BJP and then JD(S). Zilla panchayat member, Pradeep Nayak from Gokarna, is another leader who is preparing to join the Congress, it is learnt.