The Janata Dal-Secular led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda suffered another jolt with one of its front ranking leaders in Bangalore rural district, former minister B N Bacchegowda, deserting the party and joining the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Gowda and hundreds of his followers joined the party in the presence of senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu, former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and state unit President D V Sadananda Gowda.

"I and people of the state are hurt by the acts of betrayal by JDS on the power transfer issue to BJP," Gowda, a four time MLA elected from the Hoskote assembly constituency, told media persons.

"I have joined the BJP accepting its policies and programmes. BJP is not a communal party," said Gowda who had all along opposed the saffron party.

Gowda, who belongs to the dominant Vokkaliga community, claimed that there was a wave in favour of the BJP in the state and that the party was certain to come to power in the coming elections under Yeddyurappa's leadership.

Hitting out at JDS chief H D Deve Gowda, he alleged that his erstwhile party sidelined him.

Yeddyurappa said Gowda's joining the BJP would further strengthen the party.

Bacchegowda's exit has come at a time when former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy has embarked on a campaign to strengthen the JDS and prepare its cadres to face the coming assembly elections in the state.

Recently, former minister M P Prakash and seven former JDS legislators quit their party and joined the Congress.