5-time MLA C. P. Yogeshwar quits BJP, to file nomination paper as Congress candidate for Channapatna bypoll on October 24

C.P. Yogeshwar has his own vote bank in the Vokkaliga-dominated constituency. In order to grab the seat from the JD(S) in the by-poll to be held on November 13, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar had visited Channapatna several times in the last few months to announce multiple developmental projects in the constituency. However, the Congress does not have a ‘winnable’ candidate in the constituency.

In a major setback to NDA partners BJP and JD(S) in Karnataka, actor-turned-politician C. P. Yogeshwar quit the BJP and joined the Congress on October 23.

Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D. K. Shivakumar inducted Mr Yogeshwar into the Congress by presenting the party’s shawl and flag to the five-time MLA in the presence of Congress ministers, legislators and former Bengaluru Rural MP D. K. Suresh at the party office in Bengaluru.

Mr Shivakumar said Mr Yogeshwar would file the nomination papers on Thursday (October 24) in Channapatna. The last date for filing nominations is October 25.

Mr Yogeshwar, a former minister, was nominated as an MLC by the BJP in July 2020. As the BJP had not assured Mr Yogeshwar the party ticket to contest the by-poll, he joined the Congress.

On Monday (October 21), Mr Yogeshwar resigned as BJP MLC after he came to know that he would not get the party ticket.

Earlier in the day (October 23), Mr Yogeshwar met Mr Shivakumar at the latter’s residence at Sadashivanagar in Bengaluru. Later, both Mr Shivakumar and Mr Yogeshwar travelled in the same car to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Mr Yogeshwar sought the blessings of the Chief Minister, who later left for Wayanad to accompany the party’s general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for filing of nomination papers for the Lok Sabha by-election in Kerala.