Former JD(S) minister likely to join BJP

Former Minister in the H D Kumaraswamy-led Government in Karnataka G T Deve Gowda is expected to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the next 2-3 days after consultations with his supporters.

The BJP will get a big shot in the arm in the old Mysore area if the Vokkaliga leader decides to quit the Janata Dal (Secular) and join the national party.

One time strong supporter of former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, G T Deve Gowda had turned his missiles against the strongman of Mysore and backed Kumaraswamy and Janata Dal (S) chief H D Deve Gowda. He had become a minister in the Janata Dal (S) and BJP coalition government and the district incharge minister of Mysore and emerged as a rival Siddaramaiah, who is now in the Congress.

However, after Janata Dal (S) let down the BJP and its 7-day-old government headed by B S Yeddyurappa, Deve Gowda had fallen out with the party leaders. He was reportedly in touch with the BJP leaders.

State BJP leaders Katta Subramanya Naidu and R Ashok, former ministers, MP Vijaya Shankar, MLC Manohar Maski, and local leaders met G T Deve Gowda at his residence this afternoon and invited him to join their party.

Naidu told Business Standard that Yeddyurappa had spoken to G T Deve Gowda and formally invited him to join the BJP. "We are confident of Deve Gowda joining the BJP," Naidu said.

After formally inviting the prominent Vokkaliga leader, City BJP president B P Manjunath said, "G T Deve Gowda will join BJP after holding discussions with his supporters in 2-3 days."

Earlier addressing a press meet, Ashok said BJP welcomed G T Deve Gowda whole-heartedly to the party. "Leaders of his stature should join the BJP. It would strengthen the party, particularly in the old Mysore region, in which the party leaders are presently concentrating to consolidate, so that the party can come to power on its own. Therefore, the party leaders are eager to handover the party leadership in this part of the State to G T Deve Gowda. So, we welcome him openly along with all other JD (S) leaders and workers coming along with him."

Former Minister Katta Subramanya Naidu said G T Deve Gowda had already expressed feelings in favour of the BJP. "We are formally inviting him to join the party today," he said, releasing a press note to this effect, jointly signed by the four leaders.

Naidu charged that various schemes initiated by Yeddyurappa as finance minister had come to suffer during the last four months. Though a number of new industries had been cleared, the officials were not giving them permission to set up the units. Similarly, distribution of cycles to school children, ration cards to 12.5 people of below poverty line, and irrigation schemes had come to suffer under the bureaucratic rule.

The BJP leader demanded early elections in the state so that a new government came to power by February next.