Keshavamurthy quits JD(S), tipped to be Congress candidate in Nanjangud

Janata Dal (Secular) leader Kalale Keshavamurthy, who was being wooed by the Congress ahead of the crucial bypoll to the Legislative Assembly from Nanjangud reserved segment, tendered his resignation on Wednesday.

Tipped to be fielded as the Congress candidate against former Minister V. Srinivas Prasad, who has joined the BJP, he is expected join the party soon. Mr. Keshavamurthy, who had lost to Mr. Prasad during the 2013 Assembly elections, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his residence in Bengaluru about six days ago.

N.M. Manjunath, president of the Nanjangud town unit of JD(S), also handed in his resignation.

Mr. Keshavamurthy told

The Hindu that six of the nine JD(S) members in the 27-member Nanjangud Town Municipality would be joining the Congress along with him. He claimed that he had met the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and sought his blessings.

Mysuru District Congress Committee president B.J. Vijaykumar said he has no objection to the entry of Mr. Keshavamurthy into the Congress fold. The date and place of his admission will be decided by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders said the party is likely to field Geetha Mahadeva Prasad, wife of the late Minister Mahadeva Prasad, from Gundlupet Assembly constituency.