Vijayshankar to join Congress? BJP in shock

Former Minister and MP, from Mysuru  CH Vijayshankar, popular and known for his gentle ways, is quitting BJP and joining Congress. He was unhappy with the way BJP had treated him of late and wanted to join Congress. Several rounds of talks are already held with Congress leaders. Vijayshankar was very popular in Mysuru  but BJP had made him give up his familiar constituency in Mysuru to accommodate Pratap Simha.   In recent times he has been side lined to a significant extent and he had expressed his displeasure to BJP leaders.   He also was not confident he would even be given a ticket in the next elections. Hence he decided to quit BJP, say sources.  

Former Minister and MP, from Mysuru CH Vijayshankar, popular and known for his gentle ways, is all set to quit BJP and join Congress, said sources from Congress. He was unhappy with the way BJP had treated him of late and wanted to join Congress. Several rounds of talks have been already held with Congress leaders, reported Kannada Prabha.

Vijayshankar, of the Kuruba community, is influential in the Mysuru circles and his quitting the party will have a negative impact on BJP.  It is said that BJP leaders tried to retain him in the Party but failed. Vijayshankar actually started with Congress and later joined BJP and became a minister and MP. He is also the current BJP State Raitha Morcha president.

The BJP had made him give up his familiar constituency in Mysuru to accommodate Pratap Simha.  Vijayshankar was very popular in Mysuru and did not wish to contest from Hassan, as suggested by BJP leaders. He had expressed his dissatisfaction openly. However, he had not left the Party. However, in recent times he has been side lined and finally he has decided to quit BJP, it is said.

He quit Congress in 1990 and contested against Chandraprabha Urs and won in 1994 to enter into Vidhana Sabha. In 1998 he contested from Mysuru to win Lok Sabha elections with a clear lead of over one lakh votes.  He was again elected in 2004 to Lok Sabha. IN 2009 he lost against H Vishwanath with a mere 6700 votes. In 2014 he was getting prepared to contest from Mysuru when the BJP leaders decided to field Pratap Simha from Mysuru and asked Vijayshankar to contest from Hassan. He had to fight HD Deve Gowda in Hasana and he lost.

In 2010 he entered Vidhana Parishat. In Yeddyurappa’s cabinet he served as the Forest Minister. In Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shettar Cabinet he was neglected. Hence he was disappointed.

Meanwhile, his decision is creating flutter in the BJP circles. Vijayshankar was such a name in the Mysuru region that BJP was synonym with Vijayshankar.  In recent times he has been side lined to a significant extent and he had expressed his displeasure to BJP leaders.  

BS Yeddyurappa being very close to him had made him Raitha Morcha president to console him. However, even Yeddyurappa was unable to give him the importance he enjoyed earlier.  He also was not confident he would even be given a ticket in the next elections. Hence he decided to quit BJP, say sources.