Blow to BJP: After resigning as MLA, Anand Singh joins Cong with 300 supporters

Ballari, Jan 31: In a blow to Bharatiya Janata Party and Reddy brothers, former minister B S Anand Singh, who had recently resigned as an MLA, on Wednesday joined the Congress party along with 300 supporters.

The Congress is learnt to have assured Singh to give the ticket to contest the coming elections from Vijayanagara constituency in Ballari district.

State Congress president G Parameshwara formally inducted Singh into the party. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC working presidents, Dinesh Gundu Rao and S R Patil, were also present on the occasion.

Singh, who was a close associate of the Ballari Reddy brothers of the BJP, had distanced himself from the saffron party after Tipu Sultan Jayanti celebrations a few months ago.

Anand Singh, quoting internal differences between him and the district unit, had submitted his resignation letter in person to Speaker K.B. Koliwad at the latter’s residence.

To express their solidarity with their leader, office-bearers of the taluk unit of the BJP and other sub units, including the party’s Scheduled Tribes Morcha and women’s wing, among others, also tendered their resignation.