Still with JD(S), but may join Cong: Madhu Bangarappa

Former MLA and JD(S) leader Madhu Bangarappa has hinted that he may join the Congress party in the near future.

Speaking to media persons after celebrating his birthday at his residence in Kallahalli in the Vinobnagar area in the City on Tuesday, he said, he is still with the JD(S), but he would take a call on joining the Congress after holding discussions with his well-wishers and followers. He also made it clear that he would announce his decision before the Zilla Panchayat polls.

Madhu said that former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy groomed him politically and he has the highest regard for the JD(S) leader. He is finding it difficult to quit the JD(S) and embrace the Congress, he added.

On reason for planning such a step, he said, he had not faced any problem in the JD(S) but he regretted that the party workers were not given prominent positions which they deserved when the party was in power. M Srikanth, who served as district JD(S) president for many years, could have been given a key position, but was denied such a position, Madhu Bangarappa said.

He stated that then Congress rebel candidate Veda Vijay Kumar was made vice-president of the Zilla Panchayat on some promises five years ago. But till today, they had not met each other. He had discussed it in the party forum, and even Kumaraswamy had admitted it openly, he noted.

Many Congress leaders greeted him on his birthday. Zilla Panchayat Vice-President Veda Vijay Kumar, former Hopcoms president Vijay Kumar, Zilla Panchayat member Kalagodu Ratnakar, Congress leaders N Ramesh, S P Dinesh, and District Congress Committee President H S Sundaresh, and others were present on the occasion.