BENGALURU, 13 MARCH

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday claimed that three sitting BJP MPs, many sitting BJP MLAs, and a few JD(S) leaders have expressed interest in joining Congress party ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

However, he refused to reveal the names of BJP candidates. “It is a matter of time, wait for a few days, and everything will be out in the open,” said Shivakumar. Shivakumar declared that the ruling Congress is confident of winning more than 20 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka. “I have travelled across the State and have met people, I know the pulse of the people and the leaning of people towards Congress,” said Shivakumar.

Reacting to the speculations that BJP has decided to not provide tickets to 10 sitting MPs in upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Shivakumar said, “The very fact that BJP, which had won 27 out of the 28 seats in 2019, is now discarding its 10 sitting MPs and fielding new candidates besides allying with JD(S). Both BJP and JD(S) know they had lost in Assembly polls, which is an indication of the fear of BJP. There is a strong anti-incumbency feeling with people angry at the non-performance of BJP MPs.”

Regarding the candidature of the noted Cardiologist Dr CN Manjunath said, “I don’t know if Dr Manjunath is interested in contesting in Lok Sabha election as a BJP-JD(S) combine candidate from Bengaluru Rural constituency. If he does, he will know that he will lose his reputation. I respect him. We have no problems with Manjunath’s candidature in Bengaluru Rural constituency against my brother DK Suresh,” said Shivakumar.

Questioning the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP high command over Anant Kumar Hegde’s remarks over BJP coming to power to change the constitution, Shivakumar said, “We have seen BJP leaders making statements publicly dissociating themselves from what Hegde had said. If they really want to condemn, why are they not taking any action against their own MP?”