Hassan: Former JD(S) MLA KS Lingesh has dismissed speculation that he could join Congress, saying he will remain with JD(S) until his last breath. Lingesh told reporters there was no change in his political stance and he had no intention of leaving the regional party.Speculation intensified after photographs of Lingesh holding lengthy discussions with Hassan MP Shreyas M Patel and former minister B Shivaram, Congress candidate from Belur in the 2023 assembly election, went viral.Lingesh, who served as JD(S) Hassan district president for more than a decade, was recently relieved of the responsibility, prompting reports that he was unhappy with the party leadership and was considering joining Congress. There were also reports that Congress could consider giving him a ticket in the 2028 assembly elections if it chose a Veerashaiva-Lingayat candidate in one of Hassan district’s seven assembly constituencies.Rejecting the reports, Lingesh said he would never betray JD(S), which had given him political recognition, or former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and other party leaders. “I have always opposed the Congress. I will remain a loyal worker of the JD(S) and will not sever my relationship with the party under any circumstances,” he said.Lingesh expressed confidence that he would contest the 2028 assembly election from Belur as the JD(S) candidate. He was elected MLA on a JD(S) ticket in 2018 but narrowly lost his re-election bid in 2023.
