M. Shivanna, former MP, formally joined the BJP at a party rally in Shindanapura in Gundlupet taluk on Monday.
Mr. Shivanna, also known as “Kagalwadi” Shivanna, had served as the chairperson of the National Safai Karmachari Commission till recently. He also campaigned for the BJP in different parts of Gundlupet Assembly constituency on Monday.
He was elected MP from Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha constituency as a JD(S) candidate in 2004. However, he was expelled by the JD(S) in 2008 when he defied a party directive and voted in favour of the confidence motion moved by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He later joined the Congress in 2009 and had also served as member of National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
Mr. Shivanna had met B.S. Yeddyurappa, senior BJP leader, in Mysuru two days ago.
Mr. Yeddyurappa has alleged that Minister for Food and Public Distribution U.T. Khader’s driver was distributing money to voters in Gundlupet in a bid to woo them. He said the BJP will not only raise the issue in the Legislature, but also lodge a complaint with the Election Commission against the alleged electoral malpractices of the ruling party.