'32 MLAs knocking NCP doors'

Many JD(S), BJP and Congress leaders are interested in joining the National Congress Party (NCP) and are in touch with the party’s national president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, said NCP State working president Ashok Javali.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Javali said that MP Prabhakar Kore and Minister Umesh Katti were in talks with Pawar on behalf of BJP’s dissatisfied leaders and legislators.

As many as 20 MLAs from the Congress, 10 from BJP and two from JD(S) have decided to join the party, fed up with the recent developments in their parties, Javali said.
The legislators will join the party after completing their current term to avoid inviting the provisions of the anti-defection law, he said.

Former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa will be taken into the party once he is cleared of the allegations against him.

The party will contest in 100 constituencies in North Karnataka in the next Assembly elections, said Javali. It will win at least 25 seats, he said. The party will play a crucial role in government formation, he added.

The party’s district unit president Ramachandra Guruwad, taluk unit president V Shivakumar, A R Kelledaar, Renuka Shinde and others were present.