BJP leader says Cong. MLA of Sagara enquired about returning to BJP after being denied Cabinet berth - The HinduPublished - August 07, 2026 06:35 pm IST - ShivamoggaFormer Minister and BJP leader Haratal Halappa has said Belur Gopal Krishna, Sagar MLA, contacted a “senior leader of the parivar” with the objective of returning to the BJP on the day he was denied a Cabinet berth.Speaking at a protest meeting in Sagar on Thursday, Mr. Halappa said Mr. Krishna had contacted the senior leader and wanted to know if he would be allowed to return to the BJP. However, the leader, he said, responded in the negative, stating that Mr. Krishna had commented on former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and his family members in uncharitable terms, and that it was good he remained with the Congress.Mr. Halappa said he knew whom Mr. Krishna had contacted and at what time he had called. He said he was ready to reveal the details if his statement was refuted. The former Minister maintained that the Congress MLA lost the Cabinet berth because of his no-holds-barred comments on everyone. He added that Mr. Krishna did not even show the courtesy of meeting KPCC president B.K. Hariprasad when the latter was in Sagar to attend a private programme.Mr. Krishna was earlier elected to the Assembly on a BJP ticket.Mr. Halappa made the statement while addressing party workers during a protest organised by the Sagar taluk unit of the BJP demanding the repair of faulty rain gauges. The party alleged that last year, areca growers did not get the compensation they deserved under the weather-based crop insurance scheme because of the faulty rain gauges.Published - August 07, 2026 06:35 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }