JDS 13 Councilors Joined Congress: Janata Dal Secular (JDS) has suffered a major setback in Karnataka. 13 out of 16 JDS councillors in Channapatna City Municipal Council have joined the Congress. In this way, they have escaped the anti-defection law, because two-thirds of the councillors have changed sides together.
The induction of such a large number of councillors into the party is being seen as a move by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to weaken the JDS and strengthen the prospects of the Congress in Channapatna. Channapatna is a Vokkaliga-dominated taluk, where both parties are bitter rivals.
The seat fell vacant after HD Kumaraswamy became an MP
This mass defection has happened just before the by-election for the Channapatna assembly constituency. In fact, the Channapatna assembly seat fell vacant after HD Kumaraswamy was elected as MP from Mandya Lok Sabha seat. Shivakumar, who is also the president of Karnataka Congress, has taken the Channapatna by-election personally and wants to ‘avenge’ his brother DK Suresh’s defeat at the hands of the BJP-JDS alliance in Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2021 elections for the 31-member Channapatna City Municipal Council, 16 JDS, seven each from Congress and BJP and one independent candidate were elected councillors. Now with 13 JDS and one independent Uma joining the Congress, the entire equation seems to have changed.
Congress demanded from DEO that party-changing rule should not be applicable on these people
Ramnagar Congress president Gangadhar S petitioned the deputy commissioner, who is also the district election officer (DEO), to officially recognise the defectors as members of his party in the civic body. He also said that the JDS members had joined the Congress of their own free will.
Plus point for Congress, others disappointed
This big game is expected to have an impact on the Channapatna by-election and is being considered a plus point for the Congress. On the other hand, BJP and JDS are fighting over who should be the candidate. Former BJP minister CP Yogeshwar is pushing for a ticket from here, while JDS wants to field one of its candidates from here. Talking about Congress, there is speculation here that Bangalore Teachers MLC Puttanna may be fielded.
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