Former MP JP Hegde all set to join BJP?

Former MP JP Hegde all set to join BJP?

Udupi: Sources said that the BJP leaders were in close contact with Korgi Jayaprakash Hegde, a former member of the Lok Sabha from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru to bring him to the party.

Jayaprakash Hegde had won the elections in the past in the Janata Dal, Congress and as an independent candidate. Most of the times, he had won on his own merit. Hegde joined the Congress party in 2008 from the erstwhile Janata Dal. In Udupi, the Congress was united in the 2012 Lok Sabha by-elections in which Hegde won the Udupi Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha elections.

However, things changed in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Loyalists of Hedge point fingers at party leaders for his defeat in 2014. They allege that prominent congress leaders did not show any interest to ensure the victory of the Congress candidate after they won the 2013 Assembly elections.

Hegde was denied the Congress party ticket to contest the legislative council elections last year, he later filed his nomination as an independent. The Congress party then expelled him for anti-party activities.

The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders are putting their efforts to bring JP Hegde to their fold. Some leaders of the BJP have reportedly floated rumours that Hegde is all set to Join the BJP.

Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader who recently visited Udupi had made a statement that many senior politicians and bureaucrats were also in line to Join BJP.

When mangalorean.com contacted JP Hegde he clarified and said, “Joining any party is necessary to serve the people. BJP leaders have approached me once and we had discussions. The congress party is not showing any interest to take me back to the party, it is necessary to join any party to serve the people. Till now I have not decided to join the BJP. After consulting my friends, supporters and well-wishers, I will take the right decision as early as possible”, he added.