Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Sep 16: It is said that Kolar JD(S) legislator, K Srinivas Gowda, has evinced interest to join the Congress. He met Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, D K Shivakumar, on Wednesday September 15 and held discussions with him. This development has kicked up curiosity among the political analysts.

Srinivas Gowda, who fought on a Congress ticket in 2008, was defeated by independent candidate, Varthur Prakash from Kolar. In 2013, he fought from JD(S) ticket but again was defeated by Varhur Prakash. In 2018 however, he won with a huge margin of 44,000 votes as a JD(S) candidate.

During the fall of the coalition government, Gowda did not change his loyalties even though efforts to woo him were made. Later, because of certain developments in the party, he had kept a discreet distance from the party leadership and had also openly expressed his dissatisfaction.

Sources claim that an effort is being made to field Srinivas Gowda as a Congress candidate in 2023. At the same time, Varthur Prakash is trying to join the Congress through Siddaramaiah. But if Srinivas Gowda is given the green signal, Varthur Prakash may face reverses, it is said.

In the meanwhile, there are rumours that several JD(S) legislators may join the Congress before the next assembly election. About 16 MLAs from the BJP and the JD(S) are in touch with the KPCC president and if they get an assurance of ticket, most of them are ready to take a plunge, sources claim.