Bengaluru: One of the young leaders of the BJP state unit Sharath Bachchegowda, son of BJP MP from Chikkaballapura Bachchegowda is likely to quit the party and join Congress and contest in the Hosakote by-election. In the first indication of quitting the party, he announced that he will celebrate the Tipu Jayanti in Hosakote and see who will stop him.

Tipu Jayanti celebration has been dropped by BSY led BJP government this year claiming Tipu was anti-Hindu. Sharath, who contested as a BJP candidate from Hosakote constituency in the 2013 assembly election is aspiring for the party ticket in the upcoming by-election following the resignation of incumbent MLA, former minister MTB Nagaraj who jumped from Congress to BJP. In the 2008 assembly election, Nagaraj had defeated Bachcheegowda in the same constituency.

Hosakote is considered as the battleground between MTB Nagaraj and Bachchegowda family. “Tipu is a patriotic king. He fought for the country. What is wrong in celebrating his Jayanti,” questioned Sharath.

It can be recalled that the BJP government dropped the Tipu Jayanti celebrations which were started by Siddaramaiah led government in the year 2013.