Bengaluru: While the Congress and BJP are fighting dissidence within their parties following the announcement of their candidates for the coming assembly poll, the JD(S) is busy inducting their disgruntled leaders.

On Wednesday, Tarikere MLA , Srinivas , who was denied a ticket by the Congress joined the JD(S), and so did Congress leaders from Raichur , Ravi Patil and Sridhar Reddy. Benga luru saw a virtual exodus with former corporators, Geetha and Srinivas Reddy, and BJP leaders from Shanthinagar and other local Congress leaders joining the JD(S).




Speaking to reporters, Mr Kumaraswamy said that former Pulikeshinagar MLA, Prasanna Kumar too had held talks with party supremo, H D Deve Gowda. He revealed the party would release its second list of 126 candidates on Thursday or Friday and he himself would file his nomination papers in Rama nagar constituency on Thursday and in Chennapatana on Friday.

Asked if he thought Chief Minister Siddara maiah would contest from two constituencies, he said he had no idea. Responding to protests by the Kuruba Sangha over his remarks on former DySP, Kallappa Handibagh’s suicide, Mr Kumaraswamy said she was like his younger sister and he had been misquoted by a section of the media. Where were these agitators when she committed suicide? Did they come to the rescue of the family? Those who did not come to her help when she was under distress, are now protesting against me. I have helped her during her difficult times,'' he said.