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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar claims several Opposition leaders will join Congress

Shivakumar also did not rule out the possibility of 'rebel' BJP MLAs ST Somashekar and Arabail Shivaram Hebbar joining Congress.

ByPTI

Published Mar 06, 2024 | 3:34 PM ⚊UpdatedMar 06, 2024 | 3:48 PM

DK Shivakumar.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar claimed on Wednesday, 6 March, that several leaders from Opposition parties will be joining the ruling Congress in the coming days, and that he does not want to divulge the “secret” now.

He also did not rule out the possibility of “rebel” BJP MLAs ST Somashekar and Arabail Shivaram Hebbar joining Congress.

“Why take just two or three names?” Shivakumar asked reporters in Bengaluru, in response to a question on whether Somashekar and Hebbar are joining the Congress.

He subsequently nodded his head in agreement, when asked whether more people would be joining the party.

Also Read: Congress candidates list for Lok Sabha elections in 2-3 days: Karnataka CM

‘How can I divulge the secrets?’

Questioned as to how many will be joining Congress from other parties, the state Congress chief said: “Why talk about it now? I have told our party workers to induct all those willing and who have regard for the party, locally.”

Asked if MLAs from other parties will be joining Congress, he said, “How can I divulge the secrets?”

Hebbar, MLA from Yellapur, did not turn up for the voting despite a party whip, citing health grounds, while Yeshwanthpur MLA Somashekhar cross-voted in favour of Congress in the name of “conscience”, during the polls to four seats of Rajya Sabha from Karnataka on 27 February, in an embarrassment to the BJP.

#Karnataka Deputy CM @DKShivakumar told reporters in Hubballi: “Investigation is underway for shouting pro-Pak slogans under our government. But no investigation was done when pro-Pak slogans were shouted during BJP’s tenure. Do they have any commitment towards the country.”… pic.twitter.com/qMSRA2pQ0h

— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 6, 2024

Somashekhar and Hebbar were earlier in the Congress. They were among 17 Congress-JD(S) legislators, who had quit from their parties, which ultimately led to the collapse of the then HD Kumaraswamy-led coalition government in July 2019. They had subsequently won the by-polls on BJP ticket and served as ministers in the previous saffron party government.

Shivakumar and several other Congress leaders have earlier too made claims about more BJP and JD(S) leaders joining the party, especially in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.

(Disclaimer: The headline, subheads, and intro of this report along with the photos may have been reworked by South First. The rest of the content is from a syndicated feed, and has been edited for style.)