Veteran BJP leader DV Sadananda Gowda may quit party, contest for Congress from Mysuru

Veteran BJP leader, former Karnataka CM and Union Minister DV Sadananda Gowda may quit the party and contest from Mysuru as Congress candidate. The 72-year old leader is celebrating his birthday today (Monday).

He may contest against BJP's YCK Wadiyar. The Congress leaders are in touch with him, and the announcement is expected in a day or two.

Gowda, sitting MP from Bengaluru North, has been upset over denial of ticket from the same seat. The BJP has announced the name of MoS Shobha Karandlaje from Bengaluru North. She met him two days ago and touched his feet to take his blessings.


Gowda, a member of the Vokkaliga community, held Railways, Law & Justice and Statistics & Programme Implementation portfolios in the NDA regime. He had been sulking after he was moved from the Railways portfolio, and had even made public comments recently critical of the party's actions.

The Congress had been looking out for a Vokkaliga face in Mysuru. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar and other leaders are said to be in touch with Gowda.

Former CM Jagadish Shettar had also quit the assembly polls last year after the party denied the ticket. He contested the polls but lost. He has now returned to the party and may be the party's candidate from Belagavi.