Former BJP MLA Shakunthala Shetty from Dakshina-Kannada (D-K) district was formally admitted into the Congress at the party’s office here on Monday.
On the occasion, KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar said: “The party’s door will be kept open for all those who are ready to join the party accepting its policies and programmes.”
Informing that the party had invited Shetty, who had contested the 2008 Assembly elections from the Puttur Assembly seat, he said, “Shetty was admitted into the party after eliciting opinion from the party’s rank and file in the Assembly constituency.”
He also promised the former MLA of all support in the coming days. He said Shetty originally belonged to the Congress in Dakshina-Kannada district and had always maintained her secular credentials, though she was in the BJP for some time.
AICC secretary Vinaya Kumar Sorake said the Congress in Dakshina-Kannada district, which is the bastion of the party, would be strengthened further with the induction of Shetty into the party fold.
Shetty, who was elected to the Assembly in 2004, said the decision to join the Congress was taken after consulting her supporters in Puttur. “I have joined the Congress as per the wishes of the party workers and I will work for the success of the party in the coming days,” she said.
KPCC’s campaign committee president Veeranna Mathikatti, KPCC general secretary Bosaraju and former minister Moinuddin were also present on the occasion.