Bengaluru : JD(S) leader S Madhu Bangarappa formally announced on Thursday that he joined the Congress, a move that was in the works for quite some time.

Madhu met Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Leader Siddaramaiah, which in a way was a ‘soft’ induction. A large convention will be organised in Shivamogga sometime in April to mark Madhu’s entry into the Congress.

Son of former chief minister, the late S Bangarappa, Madhu is said to have been sulking as he felt sidelined in the JD(S). His brother Kumar Bangarappa is with the BJP representing Soraba assembly constituency.

“In today’s circumstances, the state and the country needs Congress and I believe there’s space for me here to work, grow and express myself,” Madhu told reporters. “Starting today, I will begin my activities as a Congress worker.”

Madhu and Kumar have changed parties over the years. Madhu started off with the BJP while Kumar was with the Congress. Madhu then went to the Samajwadi Party and then JD(S) whereas Kumar shifted to the BJP.

Madhu defeated his brother Kumar in the 2013 assembly election in the Soraba constituency. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Madhu was the Congress-JD(S) candidate from Shimoga and lost to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s son BY Raghavendra. After this defeat, Madhu was made the JD(S) working president. He also served as the JD(S) youth wing president.

The change of party will not “alter” the respect he has for JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda and JD(S) legislature party leader HD Kumaraswamy, Madhu said. He was responding to Kumaraswamy’s statement in Mysuru hitting out at Madhu for “backstabbing” the JD(S) after having “enjoyed power” in the party.

“All of you know that I was quiet for the last one year. There’s contribution from both sides, but if (Kumaraswamy) feels like that, I can only say that he shouldn’t,” Madhu said. “I didn’t enjoy power in JD(S), because I never got it.”