Party-hopping continued in the State ahead of the Assembly elections as four leaders from different political parties joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday. JD(S) leader Mallikarjun Khuba, who quit as MLA from Basavakalyan on Tuesday, the former legislator Nagappa Saloni, the former Union Minister Basavaraj Patil Anwari, and Basavaraj Patil Yatnal, independent MLC, joined the BJP at the party State headquarters in Bengaluru. BJP State president B.S. Yeddyurappa welcomed them.
It is learnt that these leaders would be considered to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections.
This has ruffled the feathers of supporters of other ticket aspirants in Basavakalyan, represented by Mr. Khuba, and Vijayapura district of Mr. Yatnal.
These places saw protests against the entry of these leaders by some BJP local workers.
Mr. Khuba sought to downplay the protests by maintaining that such minor resentments are natural in politics.
However Mr. Yeddyurappa said the BJP’s strength had increased due to their entry and added that other leaders are expected to join the BJP in the coming days.
Meanwhile, the BJP commenced a three-day exercise to elicit the views of its district units on the probable candidates from different constituencies.
Mr. Yeddyurappa told reporters that he would visit New Delhi to hold consultations with national president Amit Shah on the first list of candidates.
