Kalaburagi: The ‘bleak chances’ of getting elected again on the JD(S) ticket on which they were elected in the 2013 Assembly election and the ‘bright prospects’ of the BJP forming the government in the state after the polls, are said to have prompted Raichur City MLA Dr Shivaraj Patil and Lingasugur MLA Manappa Vajjal to bid adieu to their party and join the BJP.
Dr Patil had joined the JD(S) in 2013 as he was offered the ticket and the JD(S) did not have a strong candidate to field in the constituency. One of the major factors for his victory was the infighting in the rival Congress and BJP.
After his election Dr Patil neither took the local unit of JD(S) into confidence nor did he try to win over the confidence of the state leadership. As a result, a rift developed between him and the party. Things became serious after Dr Patil kept himself away from a programme attended by Dr H.D. Kumaraswamy, state JD(S) chief, at Arakera in Deodurga taluk.
But political observers feel that though Dr Patil may have joined the BJP with the blessings of Mr Yeddyurappa, the going may not be easy for him as there is a lot of opposition to his joining the party from local leaders.
Already prominent district leaders have twice made representations against admitting Dr Patil to the BJP and also denying them the ticket.
With a view to contain the dissidence, the state leadership is learnt to have invited these leaders for a dialogue at Bengaluru.
In the case of Mr Vajjal, it is a win-win offer for both Vajjal and BJP. The saffron party is said to have roped in Vajjal, who got elected from Lingasugur constituency on a BJP ticket in 2008 and on the JD(S) ticket in 2013, as it has no strong candidate in the constituency.
And for Mr Vajjal, who is a contractor by profession, being with the ‘future ruling party’ can help him become a minister and benefit him financially as he can bag big contracts.
