Congress will welcome Yatnal into party, says MLA Kage

Hubballi: Congress MLA from Kagwad and Chairman of North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) Bharamagouda ‘Raju’ Kage on Friday said that expelled BJP leader and Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal would be welcomed into the Congress, if the latter was inclined to join the party.

Kage said that he would take the lead, and discuss Yatnal’s induction into the Congress with the party high command, should the latter express a wish to join the party. “Yatnal is welcome to join the Congress, if he is willing. What is wrong with that,” asked Kage, who refrained from commenting on Yatnal’s expulsion from the BJP.

Downplaying the significance of the meeting between Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy, Kage said, “Satish may have met Kumaraswamy to discuss issues concerning the development of the state.”