Its payback time for defectors in Karnataka

It is payback time for defectors in Karnataka as many of them grabbed tickets in their respective new parties to contest the coming Lok Sabha polls, especially in the ruling BJP.

At least five Congressmen, who ditched the "hand" symbol for "Lotus" on the eve of the polls, have succeeded in getting the party tickets much to the chagrin of the Saffron party loyalists at the local level.

This is perhaps the first election in recent times where defectors have gained the upper hand in getting tickets.

BJP, which is determined to win more number of seats out of 28 at stake in Karnataka, continued with its "operation lotus" to lure leaders from its rival Congress and JDS.

The operation, first launched after the BJP formed a government banking on the support of independents, has seen many Congress and JDS MLAs quitting their assembly membership only to re-enter the House through bypolls on BJP ticket.

In the current phase of the operation, the BJP netted Congress leaders like G S Basavaraj from Tumkur, cine star C P Yogeshwar, who has been fielded in Bangalore Rural, L R Shivaramegowda in Mandya, D B Chandregowda from Chikmagalur and Gurupadappa Nagamarpally in Bidar.

Basavaraj, Shivarame Gowda and Nagamarpally are testing their electoral forutnes from Tumkur, Mandya and Bidar seats respectively.

However, Chandregowda is not lucky to get seat in his home turf Chikmagalur and has been chosen to fight the Bangalore North seat, where former railway minister and his close friend C K Jaffer Sharief is contesting.

Another known party hopper, former chief minister S Bangarappa returned to Congress ending his brief association with the Samajwadi Party and contesting Shimoga seat against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's son, B Y Raghavendra.

Former BJP MP and city cop, H T Sangaliana, who made a successful debut run on BJP ticket in Bangalore North last time but was disqualified for cross voting in the confidence vote in Parliament, is now the Congress candidate in the newly carved Bangalore Central.

But, M Shivanna, a former JDS MP from Chamarajnagar, who also cross voted in Lok Sabha and defected to Congress, is a sad man as his new party refused him ticket.