SHIVAMOGGA
JD(S) leader HT Baligar who had contested twice from Shikaripura assembly constituency against BS Yediyurappa joined BJP along with hundreds of his supporters.
He visited the BJP office and was welcomed to the party by former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, MP BY Raghavendra, former Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa, Home Minister Araga Gnanendra.
Former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa has gained popular recognition as an officer. He had contested from Shikaripura constituency in 2013 and 2018 elections and got the most votes. Now he accepted BJP’s ideology and joined BJP. He said that he is also a leader of Valmiki Samaj and will be given suitable status by the BJP.
MP BY Raghavendra said that Baligar is also a leader of the backward classes. He has rendered good service as an officer in the Central and State Government. He took voluntary retirement and joined JD(S) and now he has come to BJP. This will give more strength to the party, he said.
MLA KS Eshwarappa said that the BJP central and state governments have given priority to the backward classes. Reservation has been given to the Scheduled. BJP has done what Congress has not done in the last many years. Admitting this, Baligar has joined the BJP. He said he welcomed them wholeheartedly.
Speaking to hundreds of his workers who joined the BJP, Baligar said, today is a turning point for me. I have joined BJP after seeing the development work of BJP and the way it has responded to the sufferings of the Scheduled and Backward Classes people. BS Yeddyurappa had requested him to join the party many times. I was not bent, I was not strong. But I am awakened by BY Raghavendra’s love. I am used to the principles of BJP. He said that he will step with them on the development path of the district.
Ashok Nayka, Rudre Gowda, Bhanuprakash, S Dattatri, Gurumurthy, Nagaraj, Shivraj, Pavitra Ramaiah, Girish Patel and others were present in the press conference.
