Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 23 : Former BJP leader CP Yogeshwara joined the Congress party on Wednesday, expressing gratitude to Congress and explaining that his decision was driven by the BJP's alliance with Janta Dal (Secular) hindering his 'political development'.
Yogeshwara said, "I thank DK Suresh for bringing me to the Congress party. I started my politics with the Congress party. I left the Congress party and went to the BJP Party and now I have come back to the Congress party. I have joined the Congress party as my political development has become a problem after the BJP-JDS party united."
The former BJP leader joined Congress in the presence of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
In a press conference, Shivakumar said, "CP Yogeshwara visited me at 8 AM. He told me that his politics started with the Congress party and that he wanted to come back. I immediately made arrangements for him to meet the CM. I will bring CP Yogeshwara to the attention of our Congress high command leaders. In the presence of everyone, CP Yogeshwar will join the Congress party today. I had to go to Wayanad as Priyanka Gandhi is registering her nomination there today, but with all these developments, I will not be able to go to Wayanad."
Earlier, CP Yogeshwara met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his Cauvery residence, where Deputy CM Shivakumar and other Congress leaders were present. Former MP DK Suresh, Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Shivaraj Tangadagi, MLA Kadalur Uday Gowda, Ponnanna, and Yatindra Siddaramaiah also attended the meeting.
CP Yogeshwara is a five-time former MLA from Channapatna, the seat vacated by Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy after he won the Lok Sabha polls. The JDS will field a candidate for the seat on behalf of the NDA, forcing Yogeshwar to seek refuge in the Congress. Yogeshwara is now likely to be fielded as the Congress candidate.
"Candidates contesting Channapatna by-elections will make nominations tomorrow. The Congress candidate from Channapatna will be nominated tomorrow at 11 am. I am sending two names to the Congress High Command for the Channapatna ticket. Let's see who the high command leaders will give the ticket to," said Deputy CM DK Shivakumar.