BJP leader C P Yogeshwara joins Congress, will file nomination on Oct 24

Bengaluru, Oct 23: Disgruntled BJP leader and former minister C P Yogeshwara, who had resigned as BJP MLC, formally joined the Congress party on Wednesday and would be filing his nomination papers as a Congress candidate in the November 13 by-election to Channapatna assembly constituency, vacated by Union Minister and JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy.

Yogeshwara, who had won as MLA for five terms, from Congress, BJP, Samajwadi Party and as an Independent from Channapatna, was determined to enter the fray on the BJP symbol as an NDA candidate.

However, the BJP had left the seat to JD(S) as it was earlier held by the party, prior to the Lok Sabha election. Kumarawamy’s election from Mandya appointment Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister in the Narendra Modi government, had queered the pitch for Yogeshwar.

Even before resigning his seat as BJP MLC, Yogeshwara had been demanding that he should be chosen as the NDA candidate. He had even threatened to contest as an Independent if he was denied the ticket. He had spurned Kumaraswamy’s offer to contest as NDA candidate from Channapatna on JDS symbol, which was not acceptable to him.

Earlier in the morning, Yogeshwara called on Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D K Shivakumar and both had met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah prior to his joining the Congress party.

Shivakumar announced that the party will be sending the names of its candidates for the Channapatna, Sandur and Shiggaon assembly by-elections to the party high command. The AICC will be making the formal announcement tonight.

The KPCC chief also announced that the Congress candidate will be filing the nomination papers on Thursday morning at 11 am. He, however, did not announce the names.

After formally joining the Congress party at the KPCC office, Yogeshwara said he was joining the party unconditionally and would work as an ordinary worker undertaking whatever responsibilities that were entrusted to him.

Senior ministers B Ramalinga Reddy, Krishna Byregowda, Zameer Ahmed Khan and others, including former MP D K Suresh, brother of Shivakumar, were present.