Ahead of the April 17 Lok Sabha elections in the state, the Congress on Tuesday admitted four Opposition leaders in the state, including two former state ministers.
Former JD(S) ministers Raja Amareshwara Naik and B S Siddhanagoudar and B S Suresh, a former Independent MLA, and Balraj, a former MLA, were admitted into the party.
Meanwhile, in a mjor jolt to the BJP, former MLC and Veerashaiva leader Prof Mallikarjunappa will join the Congress on Wednesday.He and his followers will join the party in the presence of Revenue Minister V Srinivasa Prasad and Cooperation Minister H S Mahadeva Prasad at a function at Chikka Ammaneketana Choultry. Mallikarjunappa, a Yeddyurappa loyalist, was tipped as JD(S) candidate from Mysore Lok Sabha constituency. However, he decided not to join the JD(S) following opposition from his followers and Veerashaiva leaders. In the wake of differences between BJP candidate A R Krishna Murthy and him, Mallikarjunappa decided to join the Congress without any pre-conditions. Congress candidate and sitting MP R Druvanarayan said Mallikarjunappa’s entry would strengthen the party in Mysore and Chamarajanagar.