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Late on Wednesday evening, eight JD(S) leaders held a meeting with AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
After holding talks with the rebel JD(S) leaders, Siddaramaiah told the media that seven JD(S) leaders would join the Congress party soon.
JD(S) leaders Zameer Ahmed Khan, Cheluvarayaswamy, HC Balakrishna, Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, Bheema Naik, Iqbal Ansari, Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy and Gopalaiah went for the meeting.
While seven of them were accepted into the folds of the Congress, Gopalaiah has decided to remain with the JD(S).
According to a source with knowledge about the political churning, Deve Gowda has decided to accept Gopalaiah back into the JD(S).
“After the meeting, Gopalaiah went to Deve Gowda and apologised. He has been accepted back into the JD(S),” the source added.
The rebel JD(S) MLAs met with Rahul Gandhi as they had cross voted for the Congress candidate in the Rajya Sabha elections in 2016, Siddaramaiah told the media. The JD(S) MLAs are set to join Congress in December or January.
“Seven JD(S) MLAs have decided to join the Congress. They were not coerced into cross voting during the Rajya Sabha but did it of their own volition. These MLAs have a strong holding in their respective constituencies. They will boost the party’s strength,” Siddaramaiah said.
The Chief Minister also said that many leaders from the BJP had approached the grand old party and had expressed their wish to defect.
“Many from the BJP have requested to join Congress but no decision has been made yet. None of the Congress leaders will defect to BJP and we know that their party cadre are unhappy. BJP is a sinking ship into which no one wants to jump,” Siddaramaiah added.
The JD(S) MLAs, who had cross voted, were suspended and cases have been filed against them.
According to a source with the JD(S), the party supremo has decided to withdraw the case registered against Gopalaiah as he has returned to the party.