Karnataka by-polls: Congress fields former BJP leader Yogeshwar on Channapatna seat
Oct 23, 2024
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 24 : After suspense on his candidature in Karnataka by-polls, Congress has fielded former BJP leader CP Yogeshwar on the Channapatna seat.
The party released its list of candidates for the Assembly by-elections in Assam's Behali, Karnataka's Sandur, and Channapatna.
Jayanta Borah has been fielded from Behali's seat in Assam.
For Karnataka, the Congress has chosen E Annapurna for the Sandur (ST) seat and CP Yogeshwar for Channapatna.
Former BJP leader CP Yogeshwara joined the Congress party on Wednesday, expressing gratitude to Congress and explaining that his decision was driven by the BJP's alliance with Janta Dal (Secular) hindering his 'political development'.
Yogeshwara said, "I thank DK Suresh for bringing me to the Congress party. I started my politics with the Congress party. I left the Congress party and went to the BJP Party and now I have come back to the Congress party. I have joined the Congress party as my political development has become a problem after the BJP-JDS party united."
CP Yogeshwara is a five-time former MLA from Channapatna, the seat vacated by Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy after he won the Lok Sabha polls. The JDS will field a candidate for the seat on behalf of the NDA, forcing Yogeshwar to seek refuge in the Congress.
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said that BJP National President JP Nadda and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi have requested him to give the JD(S) ticket to BJP leader CP Yogeshwar for Channapatna by-polls but Congress leaders are ready to "welcome" him.
Channapatna will go for by-polls on November 13. The results will be announced on November 23.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the former joined the party unconditionally as he has "Congress blood in his veins".
Speaking at an event at the KPCC office to welcome former BJP MLC into the Congress party, he said, "He started his politics from Congress. He met me this morning and said he would like to come back to the party fold and resume his political career once again. He wants to be a Congressman once again after being in NDA for some time."
