Karnataka assembly elections 2023: MLA each from BJP, JD(S) quits, likely to contest from Congress

BENGALURU: AT Ramaswamy of JD(S), who represents Arkalgud (Hassan district), and NY Gopalakrishna (Kudligi, Vijayanagara district) of BJP resigned as legislators on Friday. Both are likely to contest the May 10 assembly elections from the same seats on Congress tickets. Ramaswamy is the second from JD(S) to quit as legislator this week after SR Srinivas (Gubbi, Tumakuru district).
Srinivas formally joined Congress on Thursday. Another JD(S) MLA, KM Shivalinge Gowda, who represents Arsikere in Hassan district, is also likely to quit and join Congress. “I have resigned as Arkalgud MLA,” said Ramaswamy, while thanking JD(S) for giving him an opportunity to serve member of the legislative assembly. “I did not quit JD(S). The party threw me out... I’m a victim of money power. I have been contacted by people from other parties. I will decide in a day or two [whom to join],” Ramaswamy added.
Former minister A Manju, who has stints with both Congress and BJP and represented Arkalgud constituency in the past, recently joined JD(S) and is likely to be the candidate for the regional outfit from the segment. Gopalakrishna had recently met senior Congress leaders including state president DK Shivakumar and CLP leader Siddaramaiah and held discussions. A former member of Congress, he was elected from Molakalmuru assembly segment in Chitradurga district four times (1997, 1999, 2004 and 2008). After he was denied the Congress ticket in 2018, he joined BJP ahead of the elections. The saffron party gave him the ticket to Kudligi instead of Molakalmuru, as senior BJP functionary B Sriramulu was fielded from there the Chitradurga seat. Both Gopalakrishna and Sriramulu won.