Bengaluru: In a significant political shift, former BJP leader CP Yogeshwar officially joined the Congress party on Thursday, just weeks before the crucial Channapatna by-elections scheduled for November 13. This move comes as a strategic response to the political landscape following the alliance between the BJP and JDS.

The formal joining took place in the presence of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who expressed his support during a press conference. "CP Yogeshwar visited me at 8 AM and expressed his desire to return to the Congress party, from which he began his political career. I made arrangements for him to meet the Chief Minister," said Shivakumar.

Yogeshwar, a five-time MLA from Channapatna, had previously vacated his seat after the 2023 assembly elections, where he was defeated by JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy. With the JDS fielding a candidate for the upcoming by-polls, Yogeshwar's return to Congress is seen as an effort to strengthen his political prospects.

In his remarks, Yogeshwar thanked DK Suresh for facilitating his return and emphasized that his political journey had led him back to the Congress party due to challenges he faced under the BJP-JDS alliance. He hinted at the Congress leadership's intention to field him as a candidate in the Channapatna by-elections, with nominations set to take place tomorrow at 11 AM.

Deputy CM Shivakumar stated that he would send two names to the Congress High Command for the Channapatna ticket, indicating a competitive political landscape as both Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy vie for influence in the region.

This development marks a pivotal moment for both CP Yogeshwar and the Congress party as they prepare for the upcoming by-polls, signaling the ongoing reshuffling of political allegiances in Karnataka.