Belonging to the Golla community, Poornima Srinivas is the daughter of former minister A Krishnappa, who was in the Congress for over three decades.
Published Oct 10, 2023 | 1:27 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 10, 2023 | 6:46 AM
Former BJP MLA K Poornima Srinivas is all set to pledge allegiance to the Congress on 20 October. (Supplied)
Eyeing a ticket for the upcoming Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections for her husband DT Srinivas, former BJP MLA K Poornima Srinivas is all set to pledge her allegiance to the Congress on 20 October.
Poornima announced that she would be joining the Congress after she held talks with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also the President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), at the chief minister’s official residence Cauvery in Bengaluru on Sunday, 8 October.
Poornima hails from an influential political family in Karnataka. Her father, the late A Krishnappa, was a former minister and a part of the Congress for over three decades before joining the Janata Dal (Secular) in 2013.
However, he passed away on 24 April, 2014, due to a cardiac — arrest a year after he was appointed as the state president of the JD(S).
Poornima, a former MLA from Hiriyur, hails from the Backward Classes — specifically, the Golla community, which is one of the dominant communities in the Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Davanagere, Kolar, and Chikkaballapur districts.
Congress leaders believe that Poornima joining the party will improve their prospects for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the aforementioned districts.
Poornima’s plan to sever ties with the saffron party and join the Congress is a significant setback to the BJP in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Congress leadership has allegedly also agreed to bless her husband Srinivas with a ticket for the South-East Teachers’ constituency for the upcoming MLC elections.
After Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar went to Poornima’s residence for Varamahalakshmi Pooja in September 2023, whispers began within the political fraternity that she would likely join the Congress.
She denied these allegations then. Now, however, she appears all set to pledge allegiance to the grand old party on 20 October.
Poornima told South First, “I will be joining the Congress because the party has promised a ticket for the upcoming MLC elections to my husband. Hence, after considering the opinion of my followers and supporters, I have decided to quit the BJP and pledge my allegiance to the grand old party on 20 October.”
She added: “I was happy in the BJP but as the party assured the ticket for MLC elections to my spouse, I have decided to switch. As everyone knows, the BJP is against dynasty politics and won’t give tickets to two members of the same family.”
Poornima continued: “However, the same rule won’t be applicable to certain people in the BJP as there are many instances where the party has given tickets to two or more people of the same family. But they denied it to my family. My spouse has always stood by my side during the elections. Hence, I have decided to join Congress.”
She also said, “Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar wanted me to join the Congress before the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls. However, I refrained then as I was confident of winning the polls but the wave was not in my favour because of the Congress and its guarantees.”
Poornima added: “I have not made any demands to the Congress. I have not asked for a ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. I have not yet spoken with any of the BJP leaders on the matter. This week, I will meet BJP former chief ministers BS Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai.”
In a strategic move aimed at bolstering its electoral prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Congress has witnessed a significant addition to its ranks with the induction of K Poornima Srinivas.
The political landscape in Chitradurga and its neighbouring districts, namely Tumakuru and Davanagere, is anticipated to undergo a noteworthy transformation as Poornima, a prominent figure hailing from the influential Golla community, is all set to align herself with the Congress party.
Poornima’s political lineage adds to her stature, drawing admiration from the local populace who hold her father in high regard as a towering leader of the Backward Classes (BCs).
There are around 2-3 lakh people belonging to the Golla community in Chitradurga, Davanagere, and Tumakuru, claimed sources.
KPCC Working President and former Chitradurga MP BN Chandrappa told South First, “Poornima joining the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections is a big boost for the cadre, not only in Chitradurga but also in neighbouring districts Tumakuru and Davanagere.”
“She belongs to the Golla community. This community is dominant in Chitradurga, Tumakuru, and parts of Davanagere. The people in the region are proud of her because she is the daughter of former minister A Krishnappa, who is a tall leader of the BCs,” he added.
“In fact, she won the 2018 Assembly elections from the Hiriyur Assembly seat because of her father’s clout and popularity. She has her own vote bank. This will definitely play a key role in the Lok Sabha elections,” Chandrappa said.
On whether the party leadership held talks with the local leaders on the matter, he said, “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar spoke with all the leaders of Chitradurga regarding welcoming Poornima to the party.”
“The decision was made when the party, under the headship of Shivakumar, held a meeting on the upcoming legislative council elections. We gave consent to the state leadership to welcome Poornima to the party,” Chandrappa said.
“The party also assured a ticket to her spouse Srinivas from the South-East Teachers constituency for the upcoming legislative council elections. We are confident of winning the Lok Sabha elections from Chitradurga,” added Chandrappa.
