Cong inducts 70 workers into party

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar welcomed more than 70 people into the Congress, crediting the alliance between the BJP and JD(S) as a reason for the dissatisfaction of the workers in question.

Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC president, said that with the pre-poll tie-up for next year’s Lok Sabha elections, JD(S) had sent out the message that ideology was not as important as political interest of the party.

He made the remarks at the KPCC office in Bengaluru where they made the inductions on Wednesday.

He also denied that there had been something called “Operation Hasta”, a euphemism for poaching of the Opposition MLAs by Congress. He insisted that there had been no “Kai” (Congress’ hand symbol) Operation but rather only co-operation.

“The BJP-JD(S) alliance has sent the bad message that ideology is not important in politics,” Shivakumar said.

The inductees include former shelter committee chairman KM Hombe Gowda, Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) member TA Murthy, retired veterinarian Dr Raju, Silk Mandir owner Thimmegowda, among others.