Expelled BSP MLA from Kollegal N. Mahesh joined the BJP in Bengaluru on Thursday, ending months of speculations over his next political move.
"The BJP is striving for the development of 130 crore people of this country. I have watched the party for the last two years and have taken the decision. It was also inspired by Dr Ambedkar's vision for "Abhyudaya" (development). Today, the BJP has realised that the overall development of the country is possible only with inclusiveness. I will work hard to strengthen the party," said Mahesh during an event held at Jagannath Bhavan in Malleswaram, which was attended by former chief minister B. S. Yediyurappa, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel and state BJP vice-president B. Y. Vijayendra.
Mahesh, a prominent dalit leader, had won the Kollegal seat in the 2018 Assembly polls for the first time following a pre-poll alliance between the BSP and the Janata Dal Secular. He served as the primary and secondary education minister in the JD(S)-Congress coalition government headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy. Interestingly, the lone BSP legislator gave up his cabinet berth following a direction from the party high command.
On July 23, 2019, he refrained from voting during the trust vote in the Assembly and the coalition government collapsed, paving the way for a BJP government. He was expelled from the party for defying its order to vote in favour of the Kumaraswamy government.
"Mahesh joining the BJP has given the party the power of an elephant. This is an indication that people from the SC, ST and backward classes are inclined to join the BJP. The dalit community in the state is with the BJP. I will be touring the state to strengthen the party. We must work together and ensure the party comes back to power with 135 seats in the next elections," said Yediyurappa.
Kateel welcomed Mahesh into the party saying the latter had expressed his intent to join the party after studying the workings of the BJP for two years. "Mahesh has joined the BJP as he is appreciative of the Modi government at the Centre, Yediyurappa and Bommai's administration in the state and the party ideology. The BJP government at the Centre has done justice to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, which is being acknowledged by the dalit community," said Kateel.
Mahesh joining the BJP is likely to help the saffron party consolidate the dalit support in the Old Mysuru region, which has remained a strong forte of the JD(S) and the Congress.
Another prominent dalit leader from the region V. Srinivas Prasad, who had quit the Congress in 2016 after being dropped from the Siddaramaiah cabinet, is now a sitting BJP MP from Chamarajnagar.
