Two JD-S leaders defect to BJP as Kumaraswamy cries foul

A loss for the Janata Dal-Secular is a gain for the Bharatiya Janata Party. As expected, the BJP has successfully managed to poach two key JD-S members, thus increasing the worries of the party further.

G T Deve Gowda and M Srinivas, both strong JD-S leaders, will officially join the BJP. According to the BJP leadership, there are several other leaders in the JD-S who are unhappy over the manner in which things have shaped up in their party and will also join the BJP soon.

Getting G T Deve Gowda into their fold is a major scalp for the BJP, as he is a major draw for voters in the Mysore belt, which has remained a JD-S stronghold for a long time.

Coverage: Political Crisis in Karnataka

M Srinivas, a former MP, too is expected to brighten the BJP's prospects in the Kanakpura belt, which has been a JD-S and Congress stronghold in the past.

Both Srinivas and Gowda will officially join the BJP on December 12 and 13 respectively, along with their supporters. B S Yeddyurappa said both the leaders will be well taken care of in the party and will also be given important posts.

Meanwhile, H D Kumaraswamy has lashed out at the BJP for vindictive politics and said that the elections should be fought in a fair manner. He said that the BJP was desperate as they had now realised that there was no sympathy for them in the state.

While the JD-S is losing hold over its leaders, it continues to have sleepless nights over the decision of M P Prakash. Prakash has expressed his displeasure over the manner in which the JD-S leadership, and H D Dever Gowda in particular, has controlled the party for personal gain.