Former legislator G S Shivananjappa and his followers finally joined the BJP on Thursday, according to sources within the party.

Along with Shivananjappa,former Tumkur JD(S) vice-president Paramashivaiah and others are learnt to have joined the party in the presence of national leaders Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar.

During the last assembly polls. Shivananjappa had represented the JD(S) from the Gubbi constituency, and lost.

Rebel candidate S R Srinivas won the seat, and later joined the JD(s). Shivananjappa, upset with some of the developments within the party, joined the Congress.

But Shivananjappa, now disillusioned with the Congress party, planned to join the BJP. He is said to have met former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa about ten days ago. After the meeting - which took place in Shivananjappa’s house - the former legislator’s joining the BJP became certain.

JD(S) new recruit

K B Bore Gowda, who had been sidelined by the BJP in spite of having worked for the party for years, joined the JD(S) along with his supporters on Thursday, said JD(S) general secretary R Kamaraju. In a meet that was held at the JD(S) party office in Bangalore, Bore Gowda joined the party in the presence of Deve Gowda and other JD(S) leaders.