Speculation is rife in political circles that senior leader and BJP MLC V Somanna may join the Congress.

Sources in the Congress said he is weighing the possibility of returning to the ruling party. The Congress leaders are said to be having an open mind in this regard. Somanna, who is a known party hopper, joined the BJP in 2009 when B S Yeddyurappa was the chief minister.

When contacted by DH, he refused to comment. Somanna, who was once a close follower of Yeddyurappa, is said to have fallen foul of the BJP leader of late. One of the reasons is that Somanna did not stand by Yeddyurappa when the latter launched his own political party, the KJP, in 2013. Ever since Yeddyurappa became the state BJP president, Somanna has been uncomfortable in the party and does not see a bright future for himself in the party, sources explained.

Besides, the Congress, too, will stand to gain by taking Somanna back. The party lost a prominent Lingayat leader in the old Mysuru region with the death of H S Mahadeva Prasad recently. Somanna will emerge as the Lingayat face of the Congress in the region if he joins the party, the sources said.

A four-time MLA

Somanna, who is a four-time MLA, had won as the Congress candidate from Govindrajnagar Assembly constituency in 2008. He resigned as MLA to join the BJP in 2009. But he lost in the subsequent by-election against Priya Krishna, son of A Krishnappa, who is now Housing Minister. Hence, he became an MLC. Somanna again lost in the 2013 Assembly elections from Vijayanagar Assembly constituency.

Realising that winning from either Vijayanagar or Govindrajnagar, will be a tough task, he started developing a base in Hanur constituency in Chamarajnagar district. He chose Hanur as an alternative constituency as it has a sizable Lingayat population.