Daughter joins BJP; Congress leader says 'stabbed in chest'

Bengaluru: After the daughter of a veteran Congress leader in Karnataka joined BJP, he said that she stabbed him in his chest by doing so, PTI reported.

A Congress party ticket aspirant for the Sagara constituency, Dr Ranjani Rajanandini, left the party to her father Kagodu Thimmappa's dismay and joined the BJP in the presence of party stalwart B S Yediyurappa.

"Rajanandini joining the BJP is like stabbing me in the chest. She should not have done this. I had never dreamt that my daughter would ever behave like this. This is unfortunate, which should not have happened," Thimmappa, a former minister, told reporters. He said that he grew up in politics with commitment and stability.

He also said that he would remain with Congress and work for the party. "Come what may, I will not quit Congress. I will always stand by Congress and will work for the party in this election as well," he said.

However, he added that there was some conspiracy behind his daughter's move.

PTI learned that Thimmappa had been trying hard to get a ticket for his daughter from Sagara, which he represented five times, but the party denied a ticket.

Yediyurappa, who inducted her into BJP, said the party had gained strength in and around Shivamogga. Stating that Rajanandini would help BJP candidates win in Sorab and Sagara constituencies, the BJP leader said the party would give her an appropriate position once it came to power.