Amid trading of barbs between the Congress and the BJP over the speculated desertions from the saffron party, the former Minister and BJP legislator S.T. Somashekar and Janata Dal (Secular) leader Ayanur Manjunath met Congress leaders, raising speculation over their political moves.
While Mr. Somashekar, who is believed to be upset in the BJP and is speculated to join the Congress, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday, Mr. Manjunath, a former MP, MLA, and MLC from the BJP but currently in the JD(S), met Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Though it is speculated that Mr. Somashekar — one of the 14 legislators who deserted the Congress in 2019 — spoke about the current political climate in the State, officially it was maintained that he met the Chief Minister to discuss development works in Yeshwantpur, the Assembly constituency he represents.
