Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 21: National president of JD(S), H D Deve Gowda, said that a number of Congress and BJP leaders who have the capacity to get elected as MLAs, will be joining his party within a month.

He was speaking after extending a warm reception to Mysuru district Congress spokesperson and dalit leader from T Narasipura, S Shankar, into JD(S) fold, at a function organized at J P Bhavan here.

As soon as Shankar joined JD(S), his supporters began to urge Gowda to field him in T Narasipura constituency. Some who said they were the party candidates, pressurized the JD(S) supremo to announce the name of Shankar as the party candidate in their place.

Addressing those present, Deve Gowda recalled that he had fought for internal reservation for dalits and that he had made out a list of several ticket aspirants from T Narasipura constituency. He advised the concerned to mingle with party activists and work to strengthen the party. Informing them that several leaders from other party from various parts of the state would be joining his party, Gowda advised them to get involved with the task of getting other party leaders to join JD(S). At the same time, he said that the party will decide on the issue of party candidates.

S Shankar, speaking on the occasion, said that he and his followers had worked for the Congress without seeking anything in return, and that he had also organized party convention. Expressing resentment at the fact that Congress did not provide proper representation to dalit community, he pledged to work to strengthen the party in Mysuru, Mandya, and Chamarajanagar districts.