Bengaluru: The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set out to woo disgruntled leaders in Congress and JD (S) ahead of next month’s Lok Sabha polls with former minister C P Yogeshwar and Dr Ashwathnarayana, MLA, hosting dinner for these leaders in the state capital, as the first step towards netting them.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, BJP general secretary N. Ravikumar said: “The Bharatiya Janata Party has an open mind to invite leaders belonging to the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular). If any leaders announce their willingness to join our party, we will definitely consider their move in a positive manner. Those who figure in the list of dejected leaders are former MP and former minister N Cheluvarayaswamy, Mandya MP and JD(S) leader L.R. Shivaramegowda, Sandesh Nagaraj, Puttanna and Congress leader H.C. Balakrishna.
Sources in the Bharatiya Janata Party said these leaders are upset with the decision of top brass of Congress to forge an alliance with JD (S). Mr Shivaramegowda was irked with JD (S) leadership for taking a decision to replace him with Nikil Kumaraswamy in Mandya constituency.
Meanwhile, former minister A. Manju has expressed his willingness to join the Bharatiya Janata Party if Congress leaders take a decision to support the candidature of Prajwal Revanna.
Therefore, the state unit of BJP seems keen to wean away such leaders to its fold and bolster the chances of its nominees in several Lok Sabha constituencies.
