Former JD(S) minister Iqbal Ansari joins Congress
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bangalore, July 13: Hurt by JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s recent public remark that the party would not suffer if he left it, former minister and a staunch follower of state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy, Iqbal Ansari has quit the party and joined the Congress party in Bangalore on Tuesday.
"I served the JD(S) to the best of my ability and even Deve Gowda and state president Kumaraswamy had recognised my work,” he said pointing out that he was deeply hurt by the former’s recent public comment that, `` If I left the party it would not make any difference, made me feel that I was no longer needed and therefore decided to join Congress where my presence is required.”
Welcoming Ansari, a prominent Muslim leader in Koppal district, into the party fold, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President R V Deshpande said the former minister had ``earned a good name as a minister and worked for the welfare of the minorities and the youth in his district.”
Deshpande expressed confidence that Ansari would work towards strengthening the party in north Karnataka.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Gulam Nabi Azad among others had ’unanimously’ decided that Ansari should be inducted into the party, he said.
Admitting that ``some indiscipline had crept into the party,’’ Deshapande said all efforts would be made to ensure discipline and asked the Congressmen to work unitedly to strengthen the party.
KPCC Working President D K Shivakumar said ``there is no difference between the old and the new members” and exhorted the workers to work together to strengthen the party at the grassroot level.
Ansari said he joined Congress of his own volition as he felt ``it was better to join a party that needed him rather than be in a party where he was not required.”
Along with Ansari, several of his followers, including 22 municipal councillors from Gangavathi and two from Kushtagi in Koppal District, joined the Congress.