Karnataka   

Siddaramaiah supporters join Congress

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

New beginning: Congress leaders M. Mallikarjun Kharge, Prithviraj Chavan and Siddaramaiah with those who joined the party, in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: Eight former MLAs who were suspended from the Janata Dal (Secular) were among those who were formally admitted to the Congress here on Sunday.

These former legislators, H.C. Mahadevappa, Vaijnath Patil, Venkatesh, B.R. Patil, K.B. Krishnamurthy, M. Mahadev, A.Y. Meti and M.K. Somashekar, are supporters of the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

They were welcomed into the party by AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Prithviraj Chavan and party leader Hitendra Mirdha at the KPCC office.

Addressing a large number of senior leaders, including KPCC president M. Mallikarjun Kharge, and workers, Mr. Chavan said that no distinction should be made between “newcomers” and “original” Congressmen and that all were one. They should work together to bring the party back to power in the State.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Chavan said that the leaders had joined the party unconditionally. However, their strength would be utilised to get the maximum benefits for the party in the elections.

He ruled out alliance with any party in the State and said that Karnataka had been known for social reforms and hence the Bahujan Samaj Party could not make any dent into its vote bank.

He said that the coordination committee would look into the appointment of office-bearers of the KPCC. While agreeing that some State leaders met in New Delhi and discussed, among other things, the postponement of the elections till the delimitation of the constituencies was effected, he feigned ignorance about a meeting of another group of leaders which opposed the return of Maharashtra Governor S.M. Krishna to State politics.

The former Minister R.V. Deshpande handed over a cheque for Rs. 34,20,000 to Mr. Chavan, which the former collected as souvenir committee chairman of the party. Others, who attended the meeting were H.K. Patil and Mr. Siddaramaiah.

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