Congman A Manju BJP candidate for Hassan?

Bengaluru: Is former Congress minister A Manju all set to jump ship and become the BJP candidate in Hassan in the coming Lok Sabha polls?

This is the buzz in political circles after he met senior BJP leader V. Srinivas Prasad in Mysuru recently. Strengthening the speculation, State BJP President B.S. Yeddyurappa on Sunday said Mr Manju had met him two or three times recently and it would be nice if he (Manju) contested from Hassan against Mr Prajwal Revanna, son of Minister H.D. Revanna, who is tipped to be the JD(S) candidate in Hassan, a seat held by former PM H.D. Deve Gowda.

When contacted, Mr Manju said, “Politics is not a stagnant pool of water, anything can happen anytime. I am opposed to any candidate other than Mr Deve Gowda fighting from Hassan and this had been conveyed to my party bosses too. I will have to go my own way if Mr Gowda decides to contest from some other seat leaving the Hassan seat to his grandson”.

Mr Manju said he would announce his course of action once JD(S) names its candidate for Hassan. Rumours are rife that Mr Gowda may contest from Bengaluru North. Confirming that he had met Mr Yeddyurappa, Mr Manju said he had not discussed anything regarding his joining BJP. He  admitted to meeting Mr Prasad who was his political mentor. Mr Manju also opposed CM H.D. Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy contesting from Mandya and said people of Mandya should elect locals. If anyone has taken maximum help from former minister late M.H. Ambareesh, they are JD(S) leaders but unfortunately, they are now speaking against the late actor, he said.