Karnataka: BJP, JDS Suffer Setback Ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, Over 15 Prominent Leaders Join Congress

GG News Bureau

Bengaluru, 16th Sept. Bharatiya Janata Party and JD(S) suffered a major jolt on Friday as more than 15 senior politicians and former corporators from the Bharatiya Janata Party and JD(S) joined Congress in Bengaluru in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

According to ANI, former corporators L. Shrinivas, Anjanappa, H. Suresh, Venkata Swamy Naidu, Narayana, Ramu, Balanna, Kabaddi Babu, and M. Nagraj have joined the Congress.

The function was held at the Bharat Jodo Auditorium at the party office in Bengaluru. DK Shivakumar welcomed them to the party by handing them Congress flags.

https://x.com/ians_india/status/1702719961217798467?s=20

This is the Congress’ third big operation after luring BJP and JD-S leaders from Bengaluru’s Yeshwantpur and R R Nagar constituencies.

After joining the grand old party, Srinivas stated that he worked for the BJP for 33 years. DK Shivakumar lashed out at the BJP, saying that the saffron party’s leaders were mistreated and are now knocking on our doors.

“BJP and JD-S leaders from Padmanabhanagar constituency who worked as a big force behind capturing power in Bengaluru city corporation are now with Congress. The BJP leaders have not treated them well and now they are knocking our doors,” Shivakumar said.

Shivakumar had told the high command that Karnataka would win more than 20 Lok Sabha seats. According to sources, he is talking to more than 20 MLAs from the BJP and JD (S) and trying to persuade them to join the Congress. Shivakumar defended the decision, questioning whether the BJP was correct in overthrowing elected governments in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa, and Madhya Pradesh.

DK Shivakumar expressed confidence in the Congress on Friday, predicting that the grand old party will perform well in the Karnataka Lok Sabha elections. He slammed the BJP for considering an alliance with the Janata Dal-Secular, claiming that the ruling party at the Centre is engaging in “compromise politics.”

“I was very sure about my numbers in the assembly election, now I’m saying, we’ll win many more seats in the Lok Sabha and BBMP election,” Shivakumar said, as quoted by ANI. Talking about the possible alliance of the BJP and the Janata Dal-Secular (JDS), Shivakumar said the BJP is in poor shape in the state and is joining hands “with those who betrayed them”.

“They betrayed each other. They are doing compromise politics,” Shivakumar said.

Earlier, Janata Dal-Secular leader HD Kumaraswamy stated that while his party and the BJP were in talks about forming an alliance, there was no discussion about seat-sharing. He had described BS Yediyurappa’s remarks regarding the Janata Dal (Secular) fighting for four seats in the Lok Sabha elections next year in coalition with the BJP as a “personal reaction.”