Prominent leaders leave JD (S), join Congress

Elections Karnataka State

Congress hopes to get more supporters with Geetha Shivarajkumar and B B Ningaiah joining the party.

Geetha Shivarajkumar, wife of Kannada actor Shivarajkumar and B B Ningaiahfrom Janta Dal (Secular) join the Congress Party on April 28, 2023.

Raghu Dodderi, spokesperson of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) said, “Dr Raj Kumar’s family has a big hold in Dakshina and Uttar Kannada, Udupi and Shivamogga, and  we are delighted to have her join our party.”

He added, Geetha will start campaigning for her brother Madhu Bangarappa who is contesting from the Soraba   constituency in Shivmogga district, on a Congress ticket, this election. Geetha Shivarajkumar contested in 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Shivamogga as JD(S) candidate but lost to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. However Congress party is hopeful this year Geetha’s support will help Congress to win the election.

D K Shivakumar addressing a press conference said, “We welcome all the people who have joined Congress, this election we are going to give tough competition to the opposition party.”

  • Various political party members from BJP, JD(S) and AAP joined Congress before assembly election.
  • JD(S) is hopeful that people will vote for the party and not the person.
  • Geetha Shivarajkumar, wife of Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, join the Congress Party on April 28, 2023.

Shamsul Haq, JD(S), state minority president who also joined Congress on 28th April said, “JD (S) lied to the minortory people and played with their emotions by not giving their representatives enough tickets.”

Two leaders had left JD (S) and joined Congress on April 27. M Krishnappa, president of JD(S) Yelahanka constituency said, “There are many people leaving JD(S) thinking they’ll get tickets from other parties and can win the elections, little do they know that people vote for a party and not for a person, I know people are loyal to JD(S).”

Mahesh Pandey, a political analyst said, “In other states people are joining BJP but in Karnataka the trend is completely different. People from other parties are joining Congress.”

 Leaving one political party for another continues ahead of elections in Karnataka. Apart from JD (S), prominent party leaders from Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) have left the party to join other parties like Congress and JD (S).