Those who had joined BJP and Congress after the division of Janata Dal can join JD(S), said former minister M C Nanaiah.

Speaking at a press meet here on Wednesday, he said “voters have taught a lesson when the Janata Dal was divided. They have wished us when Janata Dal was united. We should not give further scope for the division of the Janata Dal. In this background, those leaders who had ‘migrated’ to Congress and BJP in the background of the division of Janata Dal are free to come back to JD(S) to strengthen the party as an alternative to Congress-BJP in the State.” The JD(S) will be strengthened in the district as well, he added.

Mr Nanaiah said JD(S) Supremo H D Deve Gowda will arrive at Madikeri on February 15 night and will take part in the JD(S) convention on February 16. JD(S) State President Mirajuddhin Patel, Working President C Narayanaswamy, MLC Chikkamadu and others will take part in the convention.

“If Mr Kumaraswamy had handed over the power to BJP, then JD(S) would have been destroyed in the State. It was a greatest contribution of JD(S) for not handing over the power to BJP,” he opined.

To a query on why MLC C S Arun Machaiah did not attend the press meet, he said “Arun Machaiah is an independent candidate. He has not yet joined our platform. He only shares JD(S) principles and did not join the party.”

JD(S) District Unit President V P Ayyappa, leaders Shanthu Appayya, M A Ramesh, V P Shashidhar and others were present.