As part of its strategy to strengthen its base in the district, following the debacle in Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has re-inducted B.K. Sangameshwar, ex-MLA.
Mr. Sangameshwar had represented Bhadravati constituency in the State Assembly in the 2004 and 2009 elections. In the Assembly election held in 2013, the Congress had fielded ex-Union Minister C.M. Ibrahim as its candidate from Bhadravati constituency.
Disappointed over the denial of Congress ticket, Mr. Sangameshwar had quit the party, along with a large number of followers, and contested the election as an Independent. The Karnataka Janata Paksha headed by former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa then had extended support to Mr. Sangameshwar, who lost. Mr. Sangameshwar lost the election to his arch rival and the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate M.J. Appaji. Mr. Ibrahim was reduced to third position in the election.
In the latest Lok Sabha elections, B.S. Yeddyurappa of the Bharatiya Janata Party won by a record margin of 3.62 lakh form the Shivamogga Parliament constituency against the Congress candidate Manjunatha Bhandary. Like in other Assembly segments, the performance of the Congress in Bhadravati was poor in the Lok Sabha election too. Following these developments, there was a strong demand from Shivamogga District Congress Committee to re-induct Mr. Sangameshwar into the party fold. After taking the necessary permission from the All-India Congress Committee, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee has announced the re-induction of Mr. Sangameshwar into the party fold. Mr. Sangameshwar told The Hindu that he would strive to ensure victory of a large number of supporters of the Congress during the gram panchayat elections.
