Somanna to Congress rumours gain steam

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Rumours have been doing the rounds that former minister V Somanna is all set to join the Congress and has spoken to Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Congress DK Shivakumar in this regard.

The talk is that Somanna will be given the Congress party ticket from Tumakuru for the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Additionally, it is being speculated that he would also get the charge of party organisation in Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency.

The news comes in the backdrop of the elevation of former CM BS Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra to the post of the BJP state president on Friday. Somanna had been an aspirant for BJP state president’s post, saying that he’d turn the party’s fortunes around in 100 days.

The differences between Somanna, his son Arun and Vijayendra are well documented. Back in March, Arun had said in a party programme that a particular leader was set to vacate his seat for his son, who had been disrespectful to him in a telephonic conversation.

He was referring to Yediyurappa vacating his Shikaripura seat for Vijayendra. Back then, Somanna had even said that Vijayendra was only Yediyurappa’s son and that he was much more senior.

Somanna had served as Housing Minister under then CM Basavaraj Bommai. He had wanted to vacate his Govindaraja Nagar seat in May’s Assembly polls for his son, a demand that was struck by the party high command.

However, he had got his wish to contest from Chamarajanagar against Congressman Puttarangashetty, provided he also contested from Varuna against heavyweight Siddaramaiah. He lost both seats.