Former Congress MLA for Pulakeshinagar, R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bengaluru on Wednesday just a few days ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
He had quit the Congress party after being denied a ticket to contest the Assembly elections last year. Murthy subsequently entered the fray on a BSP ticket but lost, PTI reported.
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He was welcomed into the party fold by BJP veteran and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, among other leaders.
After his induction, Yediyurappa said, “We stood with him (earlier), today he has joined our party, and he has strengthened our party. He has very good support, lakhs of people are supporting R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy”
Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency comes under Bangalore North Lok Sabha segment, from where Karandlaje is contesting in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Murthy is a former MLA from Pulakeshinagar.
“Srinivas Murthy joining BJP before the elections has given the party a big strength,” Yediyurappa said on the occasion. “Shobha Karandlaje winning with a margin of 2.5 lakh to three lakh votes is certain,” he added.
(With inputs from PTI)