Karnataka: Ambareesh may not quit the Congress after all

The Mandya strongman was all set to quit from the party after he was dropped from the cabinet last year.

Actor-turned-politician Ambareesh is said to be reconsidering his decision to quit the Congress and join the Bharatiya Janata Party. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with ministers M B Patil and K J George held discussions over dinner earlier this week with Ambareesh. While the chief minister maintained that the meeting was a mere courtesy call, sources suggest that Ambareesh has been convinced to continue in the party. The Mandya strongman was all set to quit from the party after he was dropped from the cabinet last year.

The bypoll victory in Karnataka seems to have changed a lot for the Congress and its leaders. With new confidence and vigour, the party is on a 'poll-ready' mode and is doing everything it can to retain its leaders. It may be recalled that Ambareesh had lambasted the chief minister and the Congress party in a press conference after he was dropped from the cabinet. Political circles were abuzz with reports of Ambareesh joining the BJP but all that seems to have changed after the bypolls.

After S M Krishna, a Vokkaliga leader joined the BJP, the Congress is in no mood to lose any more leaders from the community. Setting aside differences, Siddaramaiah himself spoke to Ambareesh. The former minister has now decided to put his decision to quit the party on hold.

By retaining him in the party, the Congress has essentially ensured that the star's appeal translates into votes for them in Mandya, Maddur and surrounding constituencies. With former MP Ramya also by their side, Congress is now assured of massive support from their traditional bastions of Maddur and Mandya.

OneIndia News