The Hindu : Karnataka News : Dalit leader joins Janata Dal (S)

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Dalit leader joins Janata Dal (S)

Staff Correspondent

KOLAR: C.M. Muniyappa, one of the prominent leaders of the Dalit movement in Kolar district has joined the Janata Dal (Secular). Former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy welcomed Mr. Muniyappa into the party at a campaign meeting held at Malur on Monday. Addressing the meeting, Mr. Muniyappa said that he had decided to jump into active politics by joining the Janata Dal (S). “Besides, during Mr. Kumaraswamy’s grama vastavya, he stayed a Dalit’s house, and this prompted me to join his party,” Mr. Muniyappa said.

To a querry by The Hindu on the sidelines of the meeting, whether joining the Janata Dal (S) would not harm the interests of the Dalits, Mr. Muniyappa replied in the negative. Though the Janata Dal (S) joined hands with the BJP to run the government, the former had never compromised with the ideology of the BJP, he said.

With Mr. Muniyappa having a vast influence among the Dalits in Kolar and Chickballapur districts, his presence is expected to benefit the Janata Dal (S) in the polls.

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