Savadi joining Congress will benefit party, says Lakshmi Hebbalkar

BELAGAVI: Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar on Friday made a stunning disclosure when she said several BJP leaders from the district and those who have been denied tickets are in touch with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar.

Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar said many BJP leaders will join the Congress.

She said, “Belagavi City MLA Anil Benake, former MLA Shashikant Naik and several others will join the Congress. Our party will benefit with Laxman Savadi’s entry. The party state leadership is coordination with my brother Channaraj Hattiholi. We will win 9-12 seats in the districts”, she said.

Meanwhile, former deputy CM Laxman Savadi, left Belagavi for Bengaluru by a special flight. Prior to his departure, he held talks with Congress MLC Channaraj Hattiholi at the Sambra airport. The flight was booked in the name of KPCC president D K Shivakumar.

Laxman Savadi speaking to media persons at Sambra airport before heading to Bengaluru.

Savadi is expected to visit the KPCC office in Bengaluru later in the day. Speaking to reporters at the airport, he said he will hold a meeting with his well-wishers in Bengaluru. “I will take a decision after that, but first, I have to resign from the primary membership of the BJP and as MLC. Both the Congress and JD(S) have invited me. I will take a decision in a day or two and will file my nomination on April 17 or 18.”

Laxman Savadi met Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar in Bengaluru.

After his arrival in Bengaluru, Savadi met KPCC president D K Shivakumar and Opposition leader Siddaramaiah at the latter’s residence. Party general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala was also present.

“Discussions are going on and this was a social visit, leaders meet each other all the time. Any political decision that we will take, we will do it in the full glare of the media and after consultation with all Congress leaders. Laxman ji is a very senior and seasoned leader”, Surjewala told media persons later.

MLA Anil Benake is in touche with KPCC working president Satish Jarkiholi.

In more trouble for the BJP, Belagavi City MLA Anil Benake, who was denied the ticket for the upcoming election, has decided to join the Congress. He is in touch with KPCC working president Satish Jarkiholi.

Ramdurg MLA Mahadevappa Yadawad too has decided to quit the BJP after consulting his supporters. He plans to contest as an Independent and file his nomination on Monday.

Ramdurg MLA Mahadevappa Yadawad said he will contest and an Independent.

“Senior leader B S Yediyurappa and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had promised that I will be given a ticket and I was not even informed beforehand that I will not be getting the ticket. If they had chosen a local candidate, I would have been okay, but they picked Chikkarevanna who is from Bengaluru. If the party does not rectify this in two days, I will quit the BJP”, he said.