Bengaluru: Former BJP Minister Anand Asnotikar joined Janata Dal (Secular) on Monday, ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
He joined the party, along with his followers, in the presence of JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and State president H.D. Kumaraswamy. He said he had quit BJP after he and his family faced painful experiences in his home district Uttara Kannada. He also expressed unhappiness at the communal incidents in the region.
Meanwhile, there are rumours of some JD(S) legislators moving to the BJP and Congress as poll dates near.
According to sources, legislators who have been approached by the national parties include Manappa Vajjal (Lingsugur), Shivaraj Patil (Raichur), Mallikarjun Khuba (Basavakalyan), Pilla Munishamappa (Devanahalli), Narayana Gowda (Krishnarajpet), Appaji Gowda (Bhadravati), S.R. Srinivas (Gubbi), H.S. Shivashankar (Harihar), and K. Srinivasamurthy (Nelamangala).
While the BJP has enlisted C.P. Yogeshwar to bring all fence sitters to the party, the Congress has Zameer Ahmed and N. Chaluvarayaswamy to do it for them.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently met rebel JD(S) legislator from Pulakeshinagar constituency Akhanda Srinivasamurthy. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, during a recent visit to Kodagu district, met senior JD(S) leader M.C. Nanaiah. Though Siddaramaiah clarified that they did not discuss politics, it has triggered speculation.
