Bangalore, April 9 : Prominent Congress leader, four times MLA and former Minister V Somanna, a prominent Lingayat leader along with a large number of Congress leaders and supporters today formally joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and other prominent leaders of the BJP. Somanna, who represented Govindarajangar constituency from Bangalore South, had recently resigned from his seat to join the BJP.  

Addressing a press conference after admitting Somanna to the party fold Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said the state is going through a political polarization.  The joining of Somanna has strengthened the BJP’s prospects in Bangalore city.  The party is going from strength to strength and will win in 24 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in the coming elections”.  

He stated that 10 months of BJP rule has given good governance and focused on development of the state.  But the central government has shown a step-motherly attitude towards the state.  The party has prepared a charge sheet against this attitude of the centre, he revealed.  
Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ananth Kumar likened the V Somanna’s desertion of Congress to ‘the last straw in the camel’s back’ and said “the final countdown for the Congress has begun. Many Congress leaders like D B Chandre Gowda, Srikantaiah, K H Srinivas and Yogeshwar have left Congress to join the BJP. Congress leader Shivanna publicly wept unable to bear the humiliation meted out to him.  Congress has no respect to the sons of the soil.  Only BJP can provide justice and respect to all”. 
A visibly elated V Somanna stated “the stifling atmosphere within the Congress forced me to join the BJP.   This is going to be my last innings as a batsman. I will continue my political career only in BJP or will retire from politics for ever”.  
He termed his joining the BJP as homecoming and said he was closely associated with ABVP and RSS during his college days and added “I want to be like flowing water and not stagnant”.  Somanna also said he joined the BJP without any preconditions and would strive hard to ensure the victory of BJP candidates in the state. He promised a win of more than two lakh votes to BJP candidate from Bangalore South Ananth Kumar. 
A large number of Bangalore Brahut Mahanagara Palike membes joined the BJP along with V Somanna.  BJP top brass R Ashok, Katta Subrahmanya Naidu, Shobha Karandlaje, BJP North candidate D B Chandregowda were present on the occasion.  

A large number of supporters of Somanna had gathered at the state election office of BJP at Malleshwaram early morning today.  They shouted slogans in support of their leader who was set to formally join the BJP.   The cries of   ‘Bharat   mataa ki jai” reached a crescendo at the arrival of Chief Minister Yedyurappa and other prominent leaders of the party. 
Somanna, a prominent Lingayat leader, represented Congress winning the Govindarajanagar seat which comes under Bangalore South Lok Sabha constituency of BJP leader Ananth Kumar.  It is believed that Somanna has enormous clout within the BBMP and is an asset to BJP.  Irrespective of the party affiliation he is capable of winning an assembly seat from his constituency.  
Though Somanna denies that he joined the party without any preconditions it is believed that BJP stumped his wicket by promising Mayor’s post as a quid-pro-quo.