R. Raghu, former Chairman of the Karnataka Exhibition Authority, quit the Congress and joined the BJP on Saturday in the presence of Union Minister Ananth Kumar, senior BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa, and president of BJP Mysuru unit Maruthirao Pawar.
Mr. Raghu who had been associated with the Congress for the last 20 years, was the chief of Mysore Youth Congress for eight years and was a close associate of H. Vishwanath, former MP.
‘Hijacked’
Mr. Raghu told The Hindu here on Sunday that the Congress in the State had been “hijacked” by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
He said that many leaders who had strived to build the party in the region were neglected by Siddaramaiah. He said that the Chief Minister had neglected Mysuru in the State Budget. Of the 105 sub-castes coming under 2-A category, not even a single post had been given to anyone belonging to 80 sub-castes, he alleged.
Raghu alleged that the Chief Minister had failed to initiate any step to bring in social and economic equality in the state.
He predicted that many more leaders who had strived to build the party in Mysore region would soon follow him and quit the party. He further alleged that there was no internal democracy in the party.
He had been associated with the party for the last 20 years
