“Upset” Madhuswamy is expected to leave the BJP and join the Congress

JC Madhuswamy, a former minister and leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, is expected to join the Grand Old Party, which might be a boost for the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Madhuswamy lost to JDS CB Suresh Babu in the 2023 Assembly elections from the Chikkanayakanahalli segment. 2018 saw Madhuswamy beat Babu, who was running from the same seat.

Madhuswamy, a former Janata Dal member who was a four-time MLA from Chikkanayakanahalli, joined the BS Yediyurappa KJP before switching allegiance to the BJP. After losing in 2023, he became resentful of the BJP leadership and held them responsible for his situation.

Madhuswamy revealed in 2023 that Kiran Kumar of the Congress was the one who really beat him. A Lingayat named Kiran Kumar, who is said to be connected to many politicians, including Yediyurappa, received over 50,000 votes, splitting the Lingayat vote and giving JDS’s Babu a roughly 10,000-vote advantage. The party’s chances in Tiptur, Turuvekere, Chicknayakanahalli, Gubbi, Tumkur Rural, and Tumkur City are anticipated to improve with Madhuswamy’s entry into the Congress.

The BJP-JDS coalition has fielded V Somanna in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, while Muddahanume Gowda will represent the Congress. Although Somanna is a Lingayat, she is not a Nolamba Lingayat, who make up the majority, hence this development may enrage the BJP in this area.

A Nolamba was not given consideration for a Tumakuru BJP ticket after MP GS Basavaraj. Considering that their other senior leader, Madhuswamy, lost the 2023 elections in Chikkanayakanahalli, the Nolambas have been without a leader ever then.

Tumakuru-born political analyst BS Murthy believes that Madhuswamy, a well-known Nolamba leader, joining Congress may be advantageous for the party.