Puttur, February 26, 2013:
At a time when Puttur Town Municipal Corporation is witnessing a bitter contest between the ruling BJP and Congress for the elections scheduled on March 7, 2013, former BJP MLA from Puttur Shakunthala Shetty has joined the Congress, thus ending all the speculation about her political move. With JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy trying to woo her to his party, there was lot of speculation about her next political move. There were also rumours that she might join KJP led by former Chief Minister B S Yaddyurappa.
Shakunthala Shetty was formally inducted into the Congress party by KPCC President G Parameshawar at a function held at the KPCC office in Bangalore yesterday. This is indeed a calculated move by Shakunthala Shetty who is expecting to get Congress ticket to contest from Puttur, the home turf of former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda.
Her joining the Congress at a time when the BJP and Congress are fighting a pitched battle for winning the civic polls in Puttur Town Municipality, will further electrify the election scene in Puttur.
It may be remembered that Shakunthala who was BJP MLA from Puttur in 2004 had rebelled against the party and was denied ticket to contest in 2008. Enraged by this she unsuccessfully contested under the banner of Swabhimani Vedike supported by RSS stalwart Ram Bhat, subsequently leading to her expulsion from the BJP.
