Lagatar24 Desk
Bengaluru, April 14: Ahead of May 10 Karnakata polls, the former deputy CM Laxman Savadi announced his decision to join the Congress, according to DK Shivakumar, state president of the party. This decision is a big setback for the governing BJP.
At Siddaramaiah’s mansion in Bengaluru on Friday, Savadi met with the state president of the Congress, Shivakumar, and the leader of the opposition in the assembly.
At a news conference later today, Savadi will officially announce his political change, according to Shivakumar.
“We are welcoming lakshman Savadi to the party at 4pm. He will also address the press there. He has decided to join us,” Shivakumar told reporters on Frida
On April 12, Savadi announced his resignation from the BJP and from the Legislative Council after failing to secure a ticket to run for re-election in his Assembly district of Athani.
Former CM Siddramaiah said, “Savadi is joining the Congress. The BJP shouldn’t have treated him like this. His only condition is that he should be treated properly. It’s confirmed hundred percent that he will get a ticket to contest the Athani seat. I hope he wins his Assembly seat.”
Former BJP leader & former Karnataka Deputy CM Laxman Savadi has joined Congress today, says State Congress president DK Shivakumar, in Bengaluru
Laxman Savadi on April 12 resigned as Legislative Council member & from the primary membership of the BJP after losing the Athani… pic.twitter.com/B9feGbSFb9
— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2023
Raghu Achar, a former MLC and leader of the Congress, joined the JD(S) on Friday in the presence of HD Deve Gowda, the party’s leader, and HD Kumaraswamy, a former chief minister.
The ruling BJP had earlier on Tuesday unveiled its initial list of 189 candidates. There were 8 women and 52 new names on the list. The BJP won 104 seats in the 2018 elections, making it the largest party overall. The Congress and its partner JD(S) won 80 and 37 seats, respectively.
On May 24, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly’s current term will come to an end. On May 13, votes for the 224-seat Assembly will be counted.
