Two JD(S) leaders jump ship to join Congress

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress on Monday inducted two Janata Dal(Secular) members into the party fold even as the state assembly elections due in May draw closer. The first of the two new entrants are DM Vishwanath, who had contested against Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar from Kanakapura constituency and lost.

The second newcomer is Radhakrishna, who comes from Mandya district and maintains close relationships with former chief ministers HD Kumaraswamy and SM Krishna. Shivakumar said that Vishwanath had chosen Congress over the BJP.

“DM Vishwanath has done organisational work in our entire district (Ramanagara). Today, he even received an invitation from the BJP. However, after reviewing the situation in the state and district levels, apart from Kanakpura, he decided to join Congress under my leadership,” he said.

“I heartily welcome Vishwanath and the leaders from Ramanagara and Kanakapura into the party as the Kanakapura MLA and the president of the state Congress,” he added.

The KPCC president said that Radhakrishna would prove a productive member of the Congress. “Radhakrishna from Keelara (village) in Mandya district, who had maintained an excellent relationship with SM Krishna and had long-standing ties with the JD(S) said that he was willing to join Congress with no preconditions,” Shivakumar said.

This is not the first time that Congress has poached JD(S) leaders. Former MLA YSV Datta had announced a few days ago that he would join Congress on Makara Sankranti (January 15), one of many to do the same. Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy had been livid at some of his party leaders joining the Congress.