Karnataka MLA Baig’s barbs fuels speculation of him joining BJP

Bengaluru: As the Congress party’s Karnataka unit struggles to wriggle out of the damage seventime MLA R Roshan Baig caused with his outbursts to the party, a question that is abuzz in political circles is: will he choose to stay on in the Congress even after maligning three senior leaders, or explore greener pastures in the BJP?

Though the senior Muslim politician has dropped hints of his softness to the BJP, and the saffron party too has warmed up to the idea by extending an invitation, he has not said a final word yet. He has maintained his remarks were aimed only at some leaders, not the party. The BJP will have every reason to cheer if he were to join as it will fill the vacuum for a well-known Muslim face for it. In the past, the BS Yeddyurappa ministry had Mumtaz Ali Khan, an MLC then.

The BJP has some Muslim leaders now, but none of them is an MLA, and precisely for this reason, Baig stands tall. The Shivajinagar MLA joining the BJP would also mean some minority votes drifting towards the BJP. That might mean some political future for his son, R Ruman Baig.


Tuesday was an action-packed day for the former Congress minister as he went about giving generous soundbites to TV channels, attacking senior leaders. Former CM Siddaramaiah, state Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal were his targets. He said Rao’s election campaign was a “flop-show” and called Venugopal a buffoon.

He also pinned the blame on Siddaramaiah for a likely electoral setback for the party in Karnataka, a sentiment Janata Dal (S) state president H Vishwanath endorsed, rubbing the ex-CM further in.

While Siddaramaiah and Rao are reportedly in favour of strong action against Baig, the Congress is expected to move cautiously because Baig is a veteran Muslim politician with an ability to win elections and influence sections of Muslim voters. The Congress can ill-afford to let someone like Baig to join the BJP just when the saffron party is seen as on an upswing.