BANGALORE: Former Bajrang Dal state convenor Mahendra Kumar has joined JD(S) on Sunday.
Kumar who enjoys clout in coastal districts joined the JD(S)in the presence of state president and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy.
Though he was active in Sangh Pariwar for years, Kumar shot to fame, though infamous, when he owned responsibility for church attacks that rocked the state in 2008.
“Today I am shedding the shackles of communalism to strive for communal harmony, for which the JDS is wedded to”, Mahendra Kumar said while extending an apology to the Christian community for church attacks.
Kumaraswamy said that he had chosen to admit Mahendra Kumar into the party fold despite reservations expressed by muslim and christian leaders.