Congress is hopeful that Ashok Kheny’s entry will help it to consolidate the lingayat community votes. The party is keen on gaining six seats in Northern Karnataka with his induction.
The Karnataka Congress positioned itself a step further with the industrialist turned politician Ashok Kheny joining the Congress on Monday. Kheny, an MLA from South Karnataka’s Bidar constituency was elected to Karnataka Assembly in 2013 as a candidate of his own party Karnataka Makkal Paksha.
Kheny, the 67-years old leader has a history of controversial strife with JD(S) chief H. D. Deve Gowda when he was the Prime Minister of the country.
Ashok Kheny was welcomed in the party by KPCC President G Parameshwara and senior party leader D K Shivakumar. G Parameshwara reiterated that Kheny merged his party with the Congress. He further added that Kheny joined Congress without any pre-conditions.
Ashok Kheny, who was accused of land grabbing along Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway, was to be jailed by Karnataka CM @siddaramaiah. Instead he has been taken into the Congress. This proves what PM @narendramodi Ji had said i.e. @siddaramaiah govt is a #SeedaRupaiyaSarkar (1/3)
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 6, 2018
Ashok Kheny is also alleged to have been involved in duping farmers. This proves that the @INCIndia is anti-farmer. The arrogance of power displayed by Congress leaders & their kin in #Bengaluru has also proved that there is a ‘Goonda Raj’ in #Karnataka. @BJP4Karnataka (2/3)
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) March 6, 2018
Soon after the Ashok Kheny’s induction Union Minister Prakash Javadekar took a swipe at Congress saying instead of jailing the industrialist accused of land-grabbing, Siddaramaiah welcomed him in the party. However, Karnataka CM hit back saying “Kheny has not gone to jail.” His comments are seen as a dig at BJP’s CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa who was even jailed in 2011 in connection with a corruption case.
On the other hand, Congress is hopeful that Ashok Kheny’s entry will help it to consolidate the lingayat community votes. The Congress is keen on gaining six seats in Northern Karnataka with his induction.
Kheny speaking to reporters said he was impressed by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah different schemes, “like the free rice programme”.
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