Yogeshwara quitting party and joining Cong not unexpected: BJP

NT Correspondent Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday said party leader C P Yogeeshwara joining Congress ahead of November 13 Assembly by-polls was "not unexpected", and JD(S) has to decide on the candidate for Channapatna. He said BJP and JD(S) will work together unitedly and ensure the NDA candidate wins in Channapatna. In a dramatic development, Yogeeshwara on Wednesday quit his party and joined the Congress, which is now expected to field him as candidate from Channapatna. "Today's developments were not unexpected, it was expected. Yogeeshwara has special contacts in all the parties, so he had made a political decision.

I wish him the best. I along with other BJP leaders will discuss with JD(S) leaders led by H D Kumaraswamy, JD(S) will have to decide who is the candidate from Channapatna," Vijayendra said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, whoever the JD(S) decides, both parties will face the bypolls together, and the BJP will put all its might to ensure the NDA candidate wins, and "I'm confident we will be successful." "Yogeeshwara quitting the party will not have any impact on the party organisation....whether he is leader in the Old Mysuru region, I don't want to discuss....our goal is to strengthen the BJP's organisation in the Old Mysuru region, we will do it. There is no need to be in an illusion that we were dependent on Yogeeshwar for it. We have a strong team of workers," he added.