Karnataka Elections: BJP Leader Laxman Savadi Joins Congress

Former BJP leader and Deputy CM Of Karnataka Laxman Savadi Joins Congress

According to DK Shivakumar, the president of the Karnataka Congress, Laxman Savadi, who was previously a leader in the BJP and also served as Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, has joined Congress in Bengaluru. Savadi resigned as a Legislative Council member and from the primary membership of the BJP on April 12, following his loss in the bid for the Athani constituency ticket. Although Savadi had requested the BJP to reconsider their decision, they ultimately gave the seat to Mahesh Kumathalli, the incumbent MLA from the district of Belagavi.

Laxman Savadi Joins Congress

Also Read | Karnataka Elections: Ex-Dy CM Laxman Savadi leaves BJP

Savadi is a three-time MLA from Athani but lost in the 2018 elections to Kumathalli (then in the Congress).

Kumathalli was among the group of defectors who helped the BJP to bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition and form its government under the leadership of B S Yediyurappa in 2019.

Earlier, on Tuesday, the incumbent BJP announced its first list of 189 candidates. The list featured 52 fresh faces and 8 women.

In the 2018 polls, the BJP emerged as the largest single party, winning 104 seats, with the Congress and then ally JD(S) bagging 80 and 37 seats respectively.

The present Karnataka Legislative Assembly is ending on May 24. The counting of votes for the 224-seat Assembly will be held on May 13 after voting is concluded in a single phase on 10th May.