Appointed as State JD(S) General Secretary

Gonikoppal: Congress party leader and Chairperson of Karnataka Forest Development Corporation Limited Mangera Padmini Ponnappa has quit the party to join Janata Dal (Secular), thereby severing her 33-year-old link with the Congress. She has now been given the post of State JD(S) General Secretary.

Padmini, after ticket denial, rebelled against Congress and submitted her nomination to contest as an independent candidate from the Virajpet Assembly Constituency. After senior Congress party leaders convinced her, she eventually withdrew her nomination.

However, in a sudden turn of events, she has joined JD(S) after party candidate from Virajpet Sanketh Poovaiah sought her support. She was welcomed into the party fold by JD(S) Supremo H.D. Devegowda at his residence in Padmanabhanagar. She has been made the State JD(S) General Secretary.

As the Chairperson of Karnataka Forest Development Corporation Limited, Padmini Ponnappa had strived to build the Congress from the grassroot level by distributing solar lanterns and gas cylinders to the families of tribals.

Commenting on her joining JD(S), Padmini said that she had served the Congress party for three decades and had got a green signal from the party high command to contest in the Assembly elections. “My ticket was denied at the last moment and sadly the party has given importance to those who worked against the Congress.

Party leaders did not show the courtesy even to speak to me though I withdrew my nominations,” she said. Padmini added that she has joined the JD(S) as the party is secular and is pro-people.