BENGALURU: With an eye on elections to the Legislative Assembly in 2018, senior leaders of BJP in Delhi have told the state unit to induct leaders with significant clout in their respective regions — former minister V. Srinivas Prasad, former Congress MP Jayaprakash Hegde and independent legislator Haladi Srinivas Shetty —among others.
Sources said organizational secretary Ramlal has given the green signal to the state unit to invite as many such leaders to join the party but their entry should be unconditional. In case Mr Srinivas Prasad, Mr Hegde and Mr Srinivas Shetty agree to accept the invitation, their entry would boost the party’s prospects in Old Mysuru, Malnad and coastal districts respectively. According to leaders of BJP in coastal districts, who are making efforts to rope in Mr. Hegde, the former MP’s entry would boost the morale of the party workers as a majority of voters belonging to Bunt community in undivided coastal districts, who supported the Congress in 2013 Assembly elections, would return to the party fold. Mr Hegde confirmed that BJP leaders had invited him to join the party. “Leaders of the BJP and JD(S) have invited me to join their parties, but I have not taken a call yet.” Mr. Hegde, who quit the Congress in 2015 to protest against the “autocratic” style of functioning of l senior Congress leaders of coastal districts, said. Sources close to Mr. Hegde said the former MP has made up his mind to join BJP in order to ensure his political resurrection. Even his youth supporters have suggested that he join the BJP. Loyalists of Mr Hegde, however, have cautioned that if he joins BJP, he would be just another leader without any prominence in decision making process or positions if the party comes to power and therefore they suggested that he join JD(S).
“ My opinion is that if he (Mr Hegde) joins JD(S), he will be an undisputed leader of the party in undivided coastal districts and get involved in decision-making process, but in BJP, he will definitely become MLA or MP, but would not be part of decision-making process,” said Advocate Prasad Hegde, aide of Mr Hegde. Another leader from Kundapura, Haladi Srinivasa Shetty, said, “I can’t take a call at this movement. If I want to join any other political party, I should join before 6 months from Assembly membership, as an Independent MLA I cannot join a party now. If I join now, I will be violating provisions of the anti-defection Act,” he added.
Mr Prasad’s entry to BJP seems certain prior to Nanjangud bypoll, sources added.
