Bengaluru: After its landslide victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress is gearing up for the BBMP elections. Top party leaders, including Transport Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy, have been helping Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC President D. K. Shivakumar reach out to close aides of BJP MLAs and Former BBMP Corporators.
Former Corporators Mohan Kumar, Srinivas and Velu Naicker have quit the saffron party and joined the Congress. The party is focusing on K. R. Puram, Yeshwanthpur and Mahalakshmi Layouts to send a strong message to the MLAs who insulted Shivakumar, and had gone to Mumbai in 2019 to destabilise the JD(S)-Congress Government.
Ramalinga Reddy confirmed that talks are on with Former BBMP Corporators. Some sitting BJP Corporators have expressed their willingness to join the Congress. Reddy said that if they come to the party without any conditions, those who adhere to the Congress principle and strive for inclusive growth will be given a chance.
D. K. Mohan, who belongs to KR Puram Assembly constituency, said he had held talks with some leaders. The list includes some sitting Corporators and some Former CMC Members associated with the BJP. We will get a clear picture in a week,” he said.
Former Corporators Velu Naicker from Lakshmidevi Nagar ward, Srinivas from Jalahalli and Mohan Kumar from Kottigepalya joined the Congress.
We are in the Congress and we followed them after our MLAs joined the BJP. But this move has not gone down well with our party workers, so we are returning to the Congress. Asha Suresh, a Former Corporators of HMT ward, will join the Congress, he said.
The Congress’ strategy is to weaken rival MLAs and field their close aides in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections. A Senior Congress Leader said Former Corporators and Leaders are in touch with voters and the party is gearing up for the Lok Sabha polls by bringing them into the Congress fold.