Maalakareddy to join BJP

Former Cabinet minister and Congress leader A B Maalakareddy submitted his resignation to the primary membership of the party.

He met BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa at his residence in Bengaluru on Thursday morning.

Maalakareddy, former Congress MLA from Yadgir, said that one of the reasons for his departure from the party is the manner in which Congress leaders are being ignored, as the state leaders are busy being dictated by the JD(S) leaders.

He also told Yeddyurappa that he is joining the BJP to ensure the re-election of Narendra Modi as prime minister, with no other aspirations.

Meanwhile, Yadgir district BJP unit president Chandrashekhar Gouda Maganur has confirmed that Reddy, an influencial leader of Reddy community since three decades, will join BJP. However when contacted, Reddy said he has not yet joined the party.

Former ministers Malikayya Guttedar and Baburao Chinchansur have already joined the BJP to defeat Congress heavyweight Mallikarjun Kharge this time.