Former minister A Manju, also former MLA of Arkalgud in Hassan district, met former minister V Srinivas Prasad in the city on Saturday.

Prasad, also state vice president of BJP, joined the Congress in January 2017. Manju, who was elected as MLA on a BJP ticket in 1999, was later dismissed for anti-party activities.

Even though both the leaders said that it was only a courtesy meeting, it is significant as there is talk that Manju would return to the BJP fold. Sources said that Manju agreed to contest on a BJP ticket from Hassan Lok Sabha constituency if former prime minister H D Deve Gowda of the JD(S) opts out in favour of his grandson Prajwal Revanna or anybody else. It has to be noted that Manju, as Congress candidate, lost to Deve Gowda in the 2014 polls.

Both BJP MLAs of the city — S A Ramdas of Krishnaraja and L Nagendra of Chamaraja constituencies — were not aware of the meeting. No other BJP leader was present during the meeting.