Former Union Minister Basavaraj Patil joins BJP

Bangalore, Mar 14 (UNI) Former Union Minister and prominent Congress leader from Hyderabad-Karnataka region Basavaraj Patil Anvari today joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Addressing newspersons here, State BJP president D V Sadananda Gowda said with the induction of Mr Anvari, the party had got a shot in the arm in that region.

He also announced that member of the dissolved Assembly and JD(S) leader M Y Patil from Gulbarga district also joined the party.

The state unit had convened a meeting of former party Legislators and bloc presidents from 25 districts and discussed about preparing the party for the coming Assembly elections.

''The process of preparing the party rank and file will be completed by tomorrow. A huge farmers' rally has been organised at Hubli on March 17, which will be addressed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi,'' he said.

Replying to questions, Mr Gowda said the BJP was all set to face the elections and expressed confidence of coming back to power with a 'thumping majority'.

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