Belthangadi: Once Congressman Gangadhar Gowda, then a minister who later turned a party-hopper is set to make “Ghar Wapsi” to strengthen the Congress party through which he started his political journey.

Elected member of legislative assembly in 1978 from Congress, Gowda had later switched over to Janata Dal once Vasanth Bangera made his political entry. Despite losing to Bangera, Gowda remained in JDS for a long time before making his way ultimately into Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Gangadhar Gowda failed to get BJP ticket in 2013 but succeeded in obtaining the party ticket for his son. After losing the battle against Bangera again, the father-son duo remained with BJP. Denial of ticket by BJP to contest the election this time forced the father-son duo to make Ghar-Wapsi, it is gathered.

Bitter rivals in the past joining hands has evoked surprises in the local electoral arena to once again highlight the focal point, “Politics is art of the impossible.”

Gangadhar Gowda is slated to rejoin the Congress party in the presence of Campaign Committee Chairman D K Shivakumar, former Kerala chief minister Oomen Chandy and District Congress President K Harish Kumar.

Minister Ramanath Rai and incumbent MLA Vasanth Bangera will also be present to welcome Gowda back into the party fold.

Whether Gangadhar Gowda’s “Ghar Wapsi” is going to benefit the Congress and consolidate its vote bank, only time will tell.