BJP cries foul as CP Yogeshwar joins Congress ahead of Channapatna polls – The Week

The suspense over former minister CP Yogeshwar’s decision on the Channapatna polls ended with the five-time MLA quitting the BJP to join the ruling Congress today.

“I had started my political career in the Congress under the leadership of DK Shivakumar. Sometimes, you can’t live in the house you built. After the BJP entered into an alliance with the JD(S), I felt the environment was no longer conducive for my growth,” said Yogeshwar, who joined the party at the KPCC office in Bangalore .

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“I met DK Shivakumar at his residence this morning and it doesn’t need to be a secret. DK Suresh (former MP and Shivakumar’s brother) got me talking to party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who gave me his blessings. My intention is to develop the district. I have observed how DK Shivakumar and Suresh have taken initiatives for the development of the district and I just want to be a partner in the development.”

A party stalwart who has contested polls on various party symbols including the Congress, the SP and the BJP, Yogeshwar refused to contest as an NDA candidate on a JD(S) ticket, after the BJP central leadership made it clear that the seat belonged to its ally as the seat was vacated by Union minister and state JD(S) president HD Kumaraswamy.

Kumaraswamy, who was hoping to field his son Nikhil, had given in to the BJP’s demand to field Yogeshwar as the JD(S) candidate to honor the NDA alliance. But, the sudden turn of events, with Yogeshwar stepping down as MLC and BJP, has left the regional party in search of a suitable candidate who can take on the Congress.

Winning Channapatna is crucial for all three political parties as it is in the heartland of Vokkaliga, and like Kumaraswamy and Yogeshwar, the DK brothers – KPCC chief and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar and Suresh, who failed to retain the seat rural Bengaluru in the Lok Sabha polls. — have set themselves up as a challenge to win the seat to demonstrate their popularity in the community.

In 2023, Kumaraswamy had defeated BJP’s Yogeshwar by 16,000 votes and is now struggling to retain the seat. However, Congress wants to win Channapatna as it is the only assembly seat in Ramanagara district which the Congress party failed to win when the party captured the state by bagging 136 seats (in the 224-member House) in May 2023. The DK brothers are trying to re-establish their dominance in the district by winning Channapatna in the polls.

A day after Kumaraswamy alleged that Yogeshwar was “in touch” with Congress leaders, Yogeshwar joined the Congress in the presence of the DK brothers, Ramanagara district in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy and minister Zameer Ahmed Khan and a series of Yogeshwar supporters, to send a strong message to the NDA and also to the voters of the constituency which is dominated by Vokkaligas and minorities.

Shivakumar welcomed Yogeshwar to the party fold, saying, “He was in the Congress earlier. He has joined the party unconditionally. I have recommended his candidature for Channapatna to the high command. The Congress candidate will file the nomination tomorrow in the morning.”

The BJP, which was in a state of shock, said Yogeshwar’s departure would not make any difference.

Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA R. Ashok said, “Yogeshwar did not join BJP for ideology. This will not affect the party as it would have when a loyal party worker quits. BJP votes will remain intact in Channapatna. Yogeshwar has been with us for the last 10 years. But, Yogeshwar was in touch with various parties.”

Ashok added that the party had tried its best to give Yogeshwar a chance to participate. “The BJP leadership was clear that the Channapatna seat belonged to the JD(S) and accordingly Kumaraswamy offered to send Yogeshwar from the JD(S). But he declined the offer and is now hoping to contest on a ticket in Congress.This is a betrayal.All BJP leaders had supported his candidature.There is no seniority between JD(S) and BJP. He has spoiled his political career.We had an idea that he would leave and betray all our trust.BJP will support any candidate in Channapatna. alliance worked well in Kolar and Bengaluru Rural.”