The former Minister and Karnataka Janata Paksha leader Shivananda Naik on Monday joined the Janata Dal (S) here. The former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly H.D. Kumaraswamy were present.
Mr. Naik contested the 2013 Legislative Assembly elections on a KJP ticket from Bhatkal constituency and lost. He was the chairman of the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited during the BJP rule in the State.
Mr. Deve Gowda said that he would retire from active politics if the BJP or the Congress came to power on their own at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections. People were disillusioned with both the national parties and a third front has a big chance to come to power. The magic of AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi or the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would not work, he said.
Mr. Deve Gowda criticised senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar for his statement that a tea vendor could not become the prime minister, and said that no leader should make a personal attack on another.
Mr. Kumaraswamy said that the party would become strong in coastal region with the entry of Mr. Shivananda Naik. He also did not rule out giving ticket to Mr. Naik to contest from the Uttara Kannada constituency in the general elections.
The former Minister Prabhakar Rane was present.
