<p>A day after Congress leaders D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah said that a few BJP ministers and MLAs are in touch with them, ministers K Sudhakar and B C Patil, on Wednesday, clarified that the question of returning to the grand old party does not arise.</p>.<p>The said ministers are among the 14 Congress MLAs who defected to the BJP in 2019, helping the saffron party to wrest power from the JD(S)-Congress coalition government.</p>.<p>Speaking to reporters in Chikkaballapur, Health Minister K Sudhakar dared the Congress leaders to reveal the names of BJP legislators who they claim to be in touch with them. “KPCC president D K Shivakumar has said that a few BJP MLAs are in touch with him. It is better if he reveals the list... No idea about the MLAs who are in touch with the Congress,” he said.</p>.<p>Agriculture Minister B C Patil echoed similar views. “I will not forget the ill-treatment meted out to me by the Congress when I resigned as MLA. We will not leave BJP... I even doubt if Siddaramaiah will remain in the Congress, Patil told reporters in Chitradurga.”</p>.<p>“Allegations by party MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal that a few ministers’ return tickets to the Congress have been booked, are far from truth. He should clarify which ministers are in contact with the Congress, Patil said.</p>.<p>Minister Muniratna and S T Somashekar also have expressed similar views saying that they would stay put in the BJP.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>A day after Congress leaders D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah said that a few BJP ministers and MLAs are in touch with them, ministers K Sudhakar and B C Patil, on Wednesday, clarified that the question of returning to the grand old party does not arise.</p>.<p>The said ministers are among the 14 Congress MLAs who defected to the BJP in 2019, helping the saffron party to wrest power from the JD(S)-Congress coalition government.</p>.<p>Speaking to reporters in Chikkaballapur, Health Minister K Sudhakar dared the Congress leaders to reveal the names of BJP legislators who they claim to be in touch with them. “KPCC president D K Shivakumar has said that a few BJP MLAs are in touch with him. It is better if he reveals the list... No idea about the MLAs who are in touch with the Congress,” he said.</p>.<p>Agriculture Minister B C Patil echoed similar views. “I will not forget the ill-treatment meted out to me by the Congress when I resigned as MLA. We will not leave BJP... I even doubt if Siddaramaiah will remain in the Congress, Patil told reporters in Chitradurga.”</p>.<p>“Allegations by party MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal that a few ministers’ return tickets to the Congress have been booked, are far from truth. He should clarify which ministers are in contact with the Congress, Patil said.</p>.<p>Minister Muniratna and S T Somashekar also have expressed similar views saying that they would stay put in the BJP.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>