Bengaluru: Welcoming former Ministers, Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Basavaraj Patil Anwari and Nagappa Saloni and former JD(S) MLA, Mallikarjun Khooba , who joined the BJP on Wednesday, state party chief, B.S. Yeddyurappa claimed that at least four Congress MLAs would join it at its rally in Koodalasangama on April 8.
"Malikayya Guttedar and a few others will join the party that day," he announced. The party has gone ahead with the induction of Mr Khooba and Mr Yatnal despite the opposition to their entry within its ranks.
Mr Khooba had angered BJP men by his reported derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president, Amit Shah a while ago and Mr Yatnal too is unpopular owing to his criticism of Mr Yeddyurappa in the past. Having once left the BJP, he was elected to the Legislative Council as an independent, impressing the party with his support among the Lingayats, who it so desperately wants to win over these coming assembly polls with the recent controversy over independent religious status for the community denting its popularity among them.
All the new entrants are clearly hoping for a BJP ticket to contest the May 12 assembly polls. Meanwhile, supporters of BJP leader, V Somanna gheraoed Mr Yeddyurappa as he emerged from the office to get into his car. From Arasikere in Hassan district, they demanded a ticket for Mr Somanna from the constituency. Mr Yeddyurappa, however, made a quiet exit without responding to their plea.
