Channapatna JD(S) man joins Congress

Ramanagara, NT Bureau: Yet another local JD(S) leader from Channapatna taluk Ravikumar quit his party and joined the Congress in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Other Congress leaders such as MLC Putanna were also present.

Scores of JD(S) workers have switched to work in the Channapatna Assembly constituency on account of them being unhappy with the regional outfit’s alliance with the BJP. Meanwhile, Shivakumar has been holding “government at your doorstep” programmes in Channapatna taluk in the lead up to by-polls in the Assembly segment, dates for which are yet to be announced.

“Why would I come to Channapatna if there was an MLA here? I am coming here because the seat is empty. Some people are saying that I am coming to Channapatna because there are elections. I am coming here because we are attending to people’s needs,” Shivakumar said.

He was referring to the fact that JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy vacated the Channapatna Assembly seat after getting elected to the Mandya Lok Sabha segment. Kumaraswamy is now the Union Minister for Heavy industries, Steel and Public Enterprises in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet.