BENGALURU: Former deputy CM Laxman Savadi, who joined the Congress on Friday after formally resigning as member of the Legislative Council and from the primary membership of the BJP, said he is ready to campaign wherever he is asked to.
“I am ready to campaign wherever necessary, and the party leaders can direct me where they want me to campaign. I would like to clarify that wherever Laxman Savadi is, there will be loyalty and dedication as I don’t know adjustment politics. Henceforth, I will work as a common Congress party worker. I think people will teach the BJP a good lesson in the upcoming election and the day is not far”, he said.
AICC general secretary Randeep Surjewala and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief D K Shivakumar, accompanied with other Congress leaders, welcomed Laxman Savadi by handing over the Congress flag and shawl.
Savadi asked senior leaders to forget past bitter memories and to accept him as one of the family members. He said he served dedicatedly for as long as he was with BJP and likewise, he will serve in Congress, he added.
“I took the firm decision after meeting with my supporters and mentors. I joined the Congress party the people of my constituency gave me permission. Congress leaders also told me that me being in Congress would be helpful. I will work honestly, sincerely in Congress, as I did in the BJP”, Savadi said.
He added, “Now the BJP leaders are criticising me that I am leaving the party, forgetting the times when they stood by me. Yediyurappa, Jagadish Shettar and Eshwarappa had given me a task to ensure wins in Kagwad and Athani and I had succeeded. They also promised that I would be one of the candidates for the Assembly elections in 2023. I held campaigns in many other places where by-elections were announced. The BJP leaders should remember that 13 seats were won under my leadership. I never asked them to make me a Deputy Chief Minister, but they did though I lost the election. But very soon, they removed me from the post without prior notice and I didn’t ask a single question on that. I asked permission to contest in the upcoming Assembly election during a BJP core committee meeting, as promised earlier, but they ignored me. They went against all the principles of the party”.
Congress leader and AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Surjewala, said Savadi will be an important part of Congress family. “I and the party have the same space in our hearts and minds as committed leaders and workers have. Savadi will have place of pride. He will learn from the profound experiences of life. Let’s make a new beginning today leaving aside the displeasures of the past and let’s look at the future”, he said.