S Rajashekara/ENS

Bangalore, Dec 6: The BJP on Tuesday achieved twin successes by bagging two senior JD(S) leaders -- former Minister G T Devegowda from Mysore and former MP from Kanakapura M Srinivas, who are officially set to join the party next week.

The party claimed more JD(S) leaders would be joining it in the coming days.

While Devegowda will be joining the saffron party along with key local leaders and his followers in the district on Dec 13 at a huge public function in Mysore, Srinivas has decided to join on Dec 12.

The JD(S), however, salvaged some pride by managing to retain a section of its former MLAs who had attended the Nov 28 meeting of “like-minded legislators,” convened by former deputy chief minister M P Prakash.

Former minister N Chaluvarayaswamy and his associates are said to be returning to the party fold after raising a banner of revolt against “intrusive and vindictive politics” of H D Revanna and “unilateral decisions” taken by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

Significantly, the trio represent the three major sections -- backward community (Siddaramaiah), Vokkaliga (Devegowda) and Lingayat (Mahadeva Prasad) - that could prove to be a lethal blow to the JD(S)’ prospects in the near future in the region.

Meanwhile, sources in the BJP said that Devegowda, who represented Hunsur Assembly segment in the previous Assembly, has put certain conditions before accepting the offer from the saffron party.

He is said to have asked for a ticket from Chamaraja Assembly segment (held by BJP’s H S Shankarlinge Gowda) in Mysore city.

Former deputy CM, B S Yeddyurappa who held talks with Devegowda, said BJP would provide suitable post and position to the former minister.

In the Congress camp, there was a talk on return of Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna to active politics.

Amid rumours of him replacing incumbent KPCC president Mallikharjun Kharge, a group went to Delhi to pressure party higher-ups to retain Kharge.