Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar on Friday denied speculation that he was targeting the JD(S) by luring its leaders.
Shivakumar’s denial came on a day when he met Madhu Bangarappa, who has decided to switch from JD(S) to Congress.
Another JD(S) leader Geetha Shivarajkumar is also in talks to join the Congress. Also, the Congress is said to be wooing the regional party’s leaders R M Manjunath Gowda and Sharada Pooryanaik. All of them are from Shivamogga, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s home district.
Shivakumar told reporters, “I’m not targeting anyone. The JD(S) is a party in itself and they’re doing their work. I’m doing everything I can to strengthen my party. Our goal is to keep the BJP away from power.”
“I have given a call that anyone who accepts the Congress’ ideology and its leadership is welcome,” he added.
On Geetha joining the Congress, Shivakumar said he will have to discuss this with the top brass. “Geetha is no ordinary woman. She belongs to a respected family. I will discuss this with our Delhi leaders because there are processes that need to be followed,” he said.
Geetha is Madhu’s sister, the daughter of former chief minister late S Bangarappa and wife of Kannada actor Shivarajkumar. She had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Shimoga as a JD(S) candidate.
(Published 12 March 2021, 17:31 IST)
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