Former Karnataka Dy CM Laxman Savadi joins Congress

Former BJP leader and former Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi joined Congress on Friday, said state Congress president DK Shivakumar, in Bengaluru.

On April 12, Laxman Savadi resigned as a Legislative Council member and from the primary membership of the BJP after losing the Athani constituency ticket.

Shivakumar said a press conference will be held later today where Savadi will make his political switch official.


Ignoring Savadi's request, the BJP had earlier this week gave the Athani seat in Belagavi district to sitting MLA Mahesh Kumathalli.

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.

Former Chief Minister Siddramaiah said, "Savadi is joining the Congress. The BJP shouldn't have treated him like this. His only condition is that he should be treated properly. It's confirmed hundred percent that he will get a ticket to contest the Athani seat. I hope he wins his Assembly seat."

Meanwhile, former MLC and Congress leader Raghu Achar joined former ally JD(S) on Friday in the presence of party chief HD Deve Gowda and former CM HD Kumaraswamy.

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 term of the current Karnataka Legislative Assembly will end on May 24. The counting of votes for the 224-seat Assembly will be held on May 13.