Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 4: Former minister Kumar Bangarappa has announced that he would be joining BJP on March 9. Addressing a press conference here, he stated that he has resigned from the primary membership of Congress party.

Kumar Bangarappa said that he was frustrated at the efforts being made by a number of people including the district in-charge minister of Shivamogga to finish him and the Congress off. "Minister Kagodu Thimmappa has been leading efforts to destroy Congress in Shivamogga district. He never gives any weightage to words of Congress workers from Sorab constituency. He always caters to what JD(S) wants. JD(S) workers have been appointed to Agricultural Produce Market Committees, Bagar Hukum land regularization, Land Sanction Committee etc. Not only Kagodu, even the chief minister has been overlooking my advice and recommendations," he rued.

Kumar said he was under pressure from Congress workers to take a suitable decision because of harassment faced by them. "They had warned of deserting the party if I failed to pay heed to their advice. I have taken a final decision after cogitating over all the issues for eight to nine months. I believe that a strong state government under the leadership of Yeddyurappa will come to power in Karnataka. I am joining BJP without any pre-conditions," he clarified.

Kumar Bangarappa said that Kagodu had been nursing animosity against his father since the times they were in socialist party. "When my father was in power, Kagodu used to appreciate him and whenever he lost power, Kagodu used to say it was good riddance. When my father was in problem, he had derided him. He has continued with this enmity past the generation of my father to the next generation," he stated.

Kagodu Thimappa noted that Kumar's father was a chief minister. He felt that in politics victory and defeat are two faces of the same coin and that it is wrong to go away from the party when a person tastes defeat.

'Betrayal of father's vision of Kumar joins BJP: Madhu Bangrappa

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Mar 4: Meanwhile, in a press meet during his visit to Mangaluru on Saturday March 4, Soraba MLA and Kumar's brother Madhu Bangarappa dismissed the possibility of Kumar joining the BJP

To a question on the issue, Madhu Bangarappa said, "Kumar Bangarappa will not join BJP. He might have been invited by the BJP out of goodwill. However, in case he does join, it will be betrayal of our father's vision.

"Even D K Shivakumar and Kagodu Thimmappa with due respect to my father S Bangarappa had have invited me to join BJP. Every individual has the right to invite but taking the decision is left to me. Congress and BJP are two sides of the same coin. JD(S) is known for giving equal opportunities to all to create leaders. We are trying hard to strengthen our party and we are confident about positive results in the forthcoming elections. We have hope that people will stand in support of JD(S) state chief Kumaraswamy," he said.

Lambasting the two national parties, Madhu said, "Congress and BJP are trying to disturb peace and harmony in the society. The recent developments in Dakshina Kannada district have been disheartening, starting from MP Nalin Kumar Kateel's statement about setting fire in the district to opposition to Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's visit to Mangaluru.

"BJP along with Sangh Parivar opposed the visit of Kerala chief minister and called for a hartal which was successful, which indicates the failure of law and order in the district. We are confused whether it is Congress or BJP ruling the state. BJP state president Yeddyurappa is hitting headlines every now and then after he exposed the diary scandal and the steel flyover project scam in Bengaluru. Yeddyurappa has no right to talk about corruption as he himself is involved in various corruption charges and had been sent to jail for the same. I need not talk about the Congress as it is already a sinking boat," he said.

Taking a jibe at state BJP president Yeddyurappa, he said, "I think Yediyurappa is the present CBI director, as he gets every possible information about the scandals that are taking place in the state."

Speaking about strengthening JD(S) in Dakshina Kannada, Madhu Bangarappa said, "We always had a strong JD(S) base in Dakshina Kannada district, with veteran leaders like Amarnath Shetty contributing their might for the party. Now we are trying to revive it. JD(S) has formed a core commitee in the district and we are confident of opening our account in DK."

JD(S) leader Amarnath Shetty, Mohammed Kunjhi and others were present.