From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 15: On a day 16 of the 17 disqualified Congress and JD(S) MLAs officially joined the BJP ahead of the forthcoming by-elections for 15 seats on December 5, former Kagwad MLA of BJP Bharamagouda Alagouda Kage – widely known as Raju Kage - quit the party and joined the Congress party in Bengaluru on Thursday, November 15.

Raju Kage quit the BJP as he is being denied the party ticket to contest in the by-election.

The four-time legislator from Kagwad joined the Congress in the presence of Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao, KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre and other senior leaders of the party.

Raju Kage is contesting elections against Srimanthagouda Patil of the BJP.

Srimathagouda Patil was disqualified after he rebelled against the Congress.

In the 2018 Assembly elections in Kagwad, Srimanthagouda Patil (in Congress) secured 83,060 votes against Raju Kage’s 50,118 votes.

Raju Kage was first elected to the assembly in a by-poll in 2000 on a JD(U) ticket and later won three times - 2004, 2008 and 2013 on BJP ticket.