BENGALURU: The return of former minister Zameer Ahmed Khan to the camp of state JD(S) president H.D. Kumaraswamy has raised questions over the entry of legislators like him into the ruling Congress.
Many Janata Dal (S) leaders, who were planning to migrate to the Congress, are evidently disappointed because of lack of any concrete assurance from the ruling party, forcing them to drop the idea of defecting to that party at least for now. Besides, Congress leaders in their respective constituencies have opposed the entry of these leaders. They also realised that they would not be rewarded with plum posts on changing over to Congress.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader observed that though a plan was mooted by a section of leaders known for their proximity to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that JD(S) legislators should part ways with the party and join the Congress, the move was opposed by several loyal Congress leaders because they felt that their existence would be challenged if these legislators join the party.
The odd legislator, former minister C. P. Yogeeshwar, was the only one who succeeded as his return was fully backed by energy minister D.K. Shivakumar ahead of Lok Sabha polls in 2014, the leader added.
Besides, central leaders of the party were not keen to launch an operation similar to one unleashed by the BJP. “Therefore, the grand plan to break JD(S) did not materialise till date,” the leader explained.
The leader added that influential leaders in JD(S) like Zameer Ahmed Khan, N. Cheluvarayaswamy, H.D. Balakrishna of Magadi and many others also lost their hopes on seeing the plight of Mr Yogeeshwar, who could not make a big cut in any of the appointments made by the party in recent times.
