Former Malur JDS MLA Manjunatha Gowda to join BJP

‎Bengaluru:‎‎ Party hopping has started once again as the assembly elections draw near. Former Malur MLA K.S. Manjunatha Gowda is quitting JD(S) to join the BJP and is likely to get a ticket for the next assembly elections.‎

‎Several BJP leaders from Malur assembly constituency have opposed the induction of the JD(S) functionary into the BJP. They urged party leaders not to induct him into the party at any cost. It is learnt that local leaders have also arrived in Bengaluru to resolve the issue.‎

‎On Friday, minister R. Ashok told reporters that Manjunatha’s induction into BJP was certain and he would formally join the party on Saturday, May 7. Whoever has been approved by the party high command will join the party, he added.

In 2013, Manjunatha Gowda had won the Malur seat with a JD(S) ticket. He had lost the next elections in 2018 to Congress candidate K Y Nanjegowda.