BJP MLC Puttanna all set to join Cong; plans to contest from Rajajinagar

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: With the poll prospects of the Congress Party looking bright er than ever in the 2023 Assembly elections, party hoppers are preparing to switch their loyalty to the grand old party. shortly Already, around a dozen Janata Dal (Secular) legislators are reportedly waiting to jump ship for better prospects and their choice is ostensibly the Congress Party.

The sitting legislators are waiting for the Belagavi session to end next month before deciding on changing their loyalties. In fact, there is a bigger queue in front of the KPCC office off Queen’s Road than the BJP’s state headquarters at Malleswaram 13th cross.  So, from January, the state political scenario is expected to become pretty active with netas set to hop from one party to the other no matter whether they secure better prospects in the new setup or not.

One among them is former Deputy Chairman of the Legislstive Council and BJP MLC K.Puttanna who owns a chain of educational institutions in Bengaluru. He is likely to join the Congress and is eyeing Rajajinagar Assembly constituency which is presently represented by BJP veteran, S.Sureshkumar. It was about one and a half years ago that Puttanna quit the Janata Dal (Secular) and joined the BJP.

He was elected from Bengaluru Teachers’ Constituency on the BJP ticket and wants to resign once the dates for the Assembly polls are announced. It is said that he is sure the Congress Party will come to power in the State. According to sources, Puttanna has held one round of talks with KPCC President D.K.Shivakumar and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah regarding his decision to join the Congress.

The meeting reportedly took place in Bengaluru on November 24 and both leaders have reportedly agreed to his admission into the party as they want to reduce the supremacy of the BJP in the Legislative Council. Puttanna is learnt to have quietly submitted an application to contest from Rajajinagar constituency, a strong fortress of the BJP.