BJP, JD(S) MLAs set to jump ship to Congress

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A couple of ministers and at least 15 legislators of the ruling BJP and Janata Dal (S) are keen to join the Congress and contest as its nominees in next year’s elections to the Legislative Assembly.
The list of such ticket aspirants is growing longer and faster, and could well pose problems for senior leaders as they would be competing with Congressmen from these constituencies.

These leaders have already drawn up have a tentative list of ticket aspirants—sure-shot winners, narrow-margin losers, Youth Congress candidates, and the kin of former chief ministers and veteran leaders.

Therefore, the task of announcing the final list of candidates for 224 Assembly constituencies would be an uphill task, according to sources in the state unit of Congress.

The sources said the names of C.S. Putte Gowda a Janata Dal (S) legislator and labour minister B.N. Bachche Gowda are doing the rounds in party circles. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dr G Parameshwar, however, was tight-lipped. “I cannot disclose any names at this stage.

A few are from north Karnataka. These BJP legislators are disillusioned with their party. They are in touch with us because they have sensed strong anti-BJP sentiments at the grassroots,” he said.

The party’s decision to admit leaders of other parties could force the Youth Congress to let go of some constituencies at a time when it has already received 55 applications.

“At least 25 aspirants will be shortlisted from the Youth Congress. The Youth Congress candidates are keen to take on political heavyweights of other parties. In some constituencies where the Congress has not won for two decade or so, Youth Congress workers’ have been doing a lot of ground work to resurrect the party,” said Mr Rizwan Arshad, president of the state unit of Youth Congress.

Congress leaders attribute the rush of legislators of other parties to the strong anti-incumbency sentiments in the state. “We are aware that people seeking to join the Congress were with the BJP only due to the lure of power,” remarked a senior Congress leader.