Bengaluru: Anand Singh, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Vijayanagara Assembly constituency in Ballari district on Wednesday joined the Congress ahead of the crucial Assembly elections.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dr G Parameshwara formally inducted Singh into the party. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC working presidents, Dinesh Gundu Rao and S R Patil, were also present on the occasion.

Singh, who was a close associate of the Ballari Reddy brothers of the BJP, had distanced himself from the saffron party after Tipu Sultan Jayanti celebrations a few months ago. The Congress is learnt to have assured Singh to give the ticket to contest the coming elections from Vijayanagara.

Singh recently resigned as the BJP MLA.