Bypolls: Congress fields former BJP leader CP Yogeshwar from Channapatna seat

BENGALURU: After suspense over his candidature in Karnataka bypolls, Congress has fielded former BJP MLC C P Yogeshwar from the Channapatna seat. The party released its list of candidates for the Assembly by-elections in Assam’s Behali, Karnataka’s Sandur, and Channapatna.

Channapatna will go for bypolls on November 13. The results will be announced on November 23. The Congress has chosen E Annapurna for the Sandur (ST) seat and C P Yogeshwar for Channapatna. Yogeshwar joined the Congress party on Wednesday, expressing gratitude to Congress and explaining that his decision was driven by the BJP’s alliance with Janata Dal (Secular) hindering his ‘political development’.

Yogeshwar said, “I thank D K Suresh for bringing me to the Congress party. I started my politics with the Congress party. I left the Congress party and went to the BJP Party and now I have come back to the Congress party. I have joined the Congress party as my political development has become a problem after the BJP-JDS party united”.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: CP Yogeshwara joins Congress in the presence of Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar

Former minister and BJP leader CP Yogeshwar earlier today along with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and former MP DK Suresh met CM Siddaramaiah at Cauvery Residence pic.twitter.com/kIoy0WbwIC

— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2024

Yogeshwar is a five-time former MLA from Channapatna, the seat vacated by Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy after he won the Lok Sabha polls. The JD(S) will field a candidate for the seat on behalf of the NDA, forcing Yogeshwar to seek refuge in the Congress.

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said that BJP national president JP Nadda and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi have requested him to give the JD(S) ticket to BJP leader C P Yogeshwar for Channapatna bypolls, but Congress leaders are ready to “welcome” him.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the former joined the party unconditionally as he has “Congress blood in his veins”.

Speaking at an event at the KPCC office to welcome former BJP MLC into the Congress party, he said, “He started his politics from Congress. He met me this morning and said he would like to come back to the party fold and resume his political career once again. He wants to be a Congressman once again after being in NDA for some time.” (ANI)