NewsKarnataka-Bangalore

Bangalore : It has almost become certain that senior Congress leader CK  Jaffer Sharief would  join the JD(S). He is likely to file his nomination as JD(S) candidate from Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha constituency on March 24.

This will end a  five decade long association  between Sharief and the Congress. With his candidature there is all likely to be a triangular contest  in Mysore constituency. The prediction is that the minority votes may be split. It is now left to be seen if Deve Gowda’s ploy to trounce the Congress in Mysore through Jaffer Sharief would succeed.

Meanwhile, the JD(S) supremo who has opted for a wait and watch strategy will now be fielding retired IAS officer K Shivaram from Bijapur. Even former CM JH Patel’s son Mahima Patel will join the JD(S) and contest from Davangere.

The JD(S) has decided to celebrate Jaffer Sharief’s entry to the party grandly. Sharief who left for  a Mecca pilgrim tour after getting the B Form from JD(S) will be accorded a grand reception  on his arrival at the airport and will be taken in a procession till the JD(S_) office.

There is information that he is likely to arrive in Bangalore either on March 21 or 22. He will later  be given the primary membership of JD(S). Several of his loyalists too are likely to join the JD(S).Jaffer Sharief’s entry into the fray  is expected to see a tough fight from Mysore.