Former BJP MLA, husband join Congress

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Former BJP MLA from Hiriyur constituency in Chitradurga district Poornima Srinivas, her husband DT Srinivas and K Narasimha Nayak joined the Congress on Friday.

She had made her intention to do the same a couple of weeks ago and took the plunge at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru on the day along with hundreds of her supporters.

Poornima comes from the Golla (Yadav) community, an Other Backward Class (OBC) caste which is associated with cow herding. They are estimated to number around 10 lakhs.

Poornima’s father was the late A Krishnappa, a veteran Congressman who had been associated with the Grand Old Party for three decades before joining JD(S) back in 2013.

She said that her family’s old ties to the Congress were important in making the decision.

“More than a former MLA, please regard me as the daughter of Krishnappa who was of the Congress. However, due to some reasons, my father had to leave the party. He was likely to have rejoined the party but unfortunately, he is no longer with us but his blessings are with us,” Poornima said.

“I’m a woman from a Backward Class. Like my own community, there are other Backward Classes such as Uppars, Bestas, Kumabara and others who find it difficult to find political representation. The more Backward Classes consolidate with us, they will be strengthened and the more the party will get strengthened,” she added.

Rapprochement with Siddu

Speaking frankly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that Krishnappa had left the party because he had played a part in the latter not being granted a ticket for the 2013 Assembly elections, adding that he was glad that he and Krishnappa’s family had buried the hatchet.

“Despite knowing that he didn’t get a ticket because of me, Poornima is not angry with me nor is her husband Srinivas angry at me,” he said, adding that the couple stood for social justice. Deputy CM and the KPCC president DK Shivakumar pointed out that Golla organisations had also lent them support.

“I have spoken to the leaders of the region (Chitradurga district), which includes our minister D Sudhakar (Hiriyur MLA), Mohan Babu and others. After having spoken to everyone, I would like to welcome Poornima Srinivas and others into the party,” he said.