Vijayapura: Ending days of speculations, Ashok Managuli, elder son of MLA late, M. C. Managuli severed the ties with the JD(S) and joined the Congress to start his new political innings in the new party.
Surprisingly, while his father remained loyal to the JD(S) for decades and did not leave the party ever in his over four-decade-old politics, the elder son chooses to hold the hand of the Congress.
The speculations of him joining the Congress were rife when he met Former Chief Minister and Congress Legislative Party leader, Siddaramaiah a few days ago.
He has joined the Congress before the announcement of the by-election for Sindgi taluk which was represented by his father twice and died at the age of 78 when he still was serving as MLA.
One of the reasons for his son choosing Congress over the JD(S) is believed to be his fear of losing in the coming by-election where Ashok has decided to contest.
Ashok apparently believes that the primary reason behind his father winning the election on JD(S) ticket in the last assembly polls, is the sympathy that he had gained after losing to BJP by a small margin in the previous assembly polls.
However, the son did not think that the family now does not have the same sympathy and the party too is not strong in Sindgi taluk.
Weighing these critical political options, Ashok decided to join the Congress. During his meeting with Siddaramaiah a few days ago where Ashok reportedly sought his cooperation of the Congress, Siddaramaiah made it very clear that the Congress will support him only if he joins the party.
After joining the Congress, though Ashok has been claiming that he has joined the party without any conditions, however, it is amply clear that the party certainly has assured his ticket.
Anyways, the Congress too does not have any strong face in Sindgi taluk, therefore, it was looking for a leader to project as a strong candidate.
Meanwhile, the JD(S) has lost one MLA after the demise of senior Managuli, and now the party has lost a strong contender for the next by-election.
When the dates for by-polls will be announced soon, the BJP and other parties will start preparing for the election, more political dramas are expected to unfold.
