Bangalore: Nearly a fortnight after he, along with his father and former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, quit Congress and joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Kumar Bangarappa today (March 26, 2004) returned to the party saying "it was very suffocating for me emotionally in BJP".

Announcing his decision to come back to the Congress in the presence of the State's Chief Minister S M Krishna, Bangarappa, who was a Cabinet Minister in the Krishna Government, told reporters that he had tried in vain to persuade his father also to rejoin Congress.

To a question about his father's statement that he (Kumar) was annoyed as he was denied ticket by BJP to contest the polls, Kumar Bangarappa said it was not true and he could have secured a ticket for any seat in the State.

Asked whether he would campaign against his father who is seeking re-election from Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency, he said he would do whatever the party desired.

To another question whether he would contest the elections, he said that it was for the party to decide.