JOIN USThe arrival of such experienced leaders in the coming days is expected to give the much-needed strength to the party to help it balance the caste arithmetic and improve the regional influence.
Bangarappa has officially joined the JD(S) on Wednesday in the presence of party chief H D Deve Gowda. Bangarappa, who belongs to the Idiga community, wields considerable clout in coastal and Malnad regions. The JD(S), whose presence is comparatively weak here, to some extent stands to gain with his entry.
Similarly, Srinivas Gowda, who was with the Congress till recently, and C Chennigappa, who had joined the BJP after quitting the JD(S), will help the party further strengthen its position in Kolar and Tumkur districts respectively.
Sources said efforts are on to woo other seniors - Siddaramaiah, Ramesh Kumar, M P Prakash and B L Shankar, who are all with the Congress now - back to party fold.
Some supporters of Prakash are learnt to have met JD(S) State president H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday and urged him to invite their leader to rejoin the party.
JD (S) leaders are well aware that it is difficult to rebuild the Janata Pariwar all over again as Siddaramaiah is a difficult man to approach and Shankar has no grouse against the Congress as of now.
Also, Ramesh Kumar has so far not expressed any resentment with the Congress.
However, party leaders anticipate that Siddaramaiah may become frustrated or sidelined in the Congress if he can’t have a final say during ticket distribution for local body elections.
It will be the right time to woo him back to the JD(S), they believe.