We did not invite GT Devegowda to join the BJP, says Somashekar

Mysuru: For many years, including those many months when he was a minister in the HD Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress coalition government, Chamundeshwari MLA GT Devegowda has kept political commentators guessing about his next step, particularly the possibility of his leaving the JD(S). On Friday, however, the former minister ended all speculation by taking over the reins of the party unit in Mysuru. On Saturday, Mysuru district minister ST Somashekar, among those who was reported to have tried to invite Devegowda into the BJP, dismissed these claims.
“We never invited GT Devegowda to join the BJP. We are currently involved in getting eligible candidates to field in all 224 assembly constituencies in the 2023 elections. The JD(S) leader, who had kept himself at an arm’s length from his party, had been issuing statements that were confusing, and triggered speculation,” Somashekar said.
The minister said that information on expenditure incurred by the government for hosting the Dasara fete would be made public the coming week. Somashekar said that he had received reports on expenses from 22 of the 24 Dasara sub-committees, and the public announcement would be made once the remaining two panels submitted their respective reports.
Somashekar, however, chose to stay mum on the issue of transfer of deputy commissioners and IPS officers across Karnataka, including in Mysuru.