Karnataka assembly elections: In quest for majority, Congress tries to woo those who defected from party in 2019
Determined to ensure it wins a majority in the upcoming elections, Congress is making big efforts to woo ‘winnable’ lawmakers from BJP and JD(S), including some of those who deserted the party in 2019.
Sources say prominent among those Congress has been in touch with are ministers KC Narayanagowda, K Gopalaiah, and ST Somashekhar. While Gopalaiah and Somashekhar have not responded positively to the invitation, Narayanagowda has reportedly agreed to switch sides.
“Since Gopalaiah and Somashekhar are certain to win regardless of party affiliation, Congress is trying to get them to switch. But both have decided to wait till elections are announced,” a party source said. However, Narayanagowda is not as confident of retaining his KR Pet seat if he contests on a BJP ticket.
Since KR Pet is a Vokkaliga-dominated segment and BJP has no organisational base there, sources say Gowda believes a switch to Congress would be a safe bet. Narayanagowda won the seat on a JD(S) ticket in 2018 but joined BJP in 2019 and was re-elected in the byelection.
“As a ruling party candidate, Narayanagowda had the edge in the byelection. But in general elections, it is difficult for him to win on a BJP ticket,” said a BJP functionary. However, local Congress functionaries are opposing Narayanagowda’s entry into the party and state Congress president DK Shivakumar is said to be making efforts to pacify them.
It is also being said that housing minister V Somanna is also in talks with Congress as he is miffed with BJP for denying his son a ticket. But opposition leader Siddaramaiah and KPCC president DK Shivakumar on Monday denied talk of Somanna moving to Congress.
Gubbi Srinivas, KM Shivalinge Gowda, and AT Ramaswamy of JD(S) have also decided to join Congress. They are only waiting for election dates to be announced to make the move official. Sources say Congress plans to hold a rally to induct these MLAs in the presence of for – mer AICC president Rahul Gandhi. “We are waiting for Rahul’s return from London,” said a Congress member.
