Karnataka elections 2023: BJP faces an attrition challenge in the state

Former Kollegala MLA G N Nanjundaswamy and former Bijapur MLA Manohar Ainapur along with former Mysuru mayor Purushottam joined the Congress and were welcomed by state party chief DK Shivakumar who claimed that in coming days siitng BJP legislators will also join Congress.

Ahead of the key assembly elections, Karnataka BJP is facing an attrition challenge as party leaders jump ship and are joining opposition Congress.

The latest to put in his papers is sitting MLC Puttanna. He is a four-time MLC and was elected from the Bengaluru Teachers' constituency.

"I have never seen a government as corrupt as this in 20 years of me being an MLC," Puttanna said.

He was welcomed in the Congress by state president DK Shivakumar, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah.

"Suffocated & stifled by the #40PercentSarkara & its anti-youth, anti-teacher policies, Sh Puttanna, BJP MLC today resigned as MLC & from BJP Membership. He has 4 years tenure as MLC remaining. We at @INCKarnataka commend his bold and courageous move," Surjewala tweeted.

This comes after two former BJP MLAs and a former Mysuru mayor returned to Congress.

Former Kollegala MLA G N Nanjundaswamy and former Bijapur MLA Manohar Ainapur along with former Mysuru mayor Purushottam joined the Congress and were welcomed by state party chief DK Shivakumar who claimed that in coming days siitng BJP legislators will also join Congress.

According to media reports, two BJP ministers, V. Somanna and M.C. Narayana Gowda, are likely to switch to Congress and have maintained a distance from party activities.