Bengaluru/UNI: In a massive jolt to AAP, its manifesto chairman Bhaskar Rao joined the BJP ahead of assembly polls in Karnataka.

Rao, who is a former IPS officer, was welcomed at BJP's Malleshwaram office by Karnataka BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel and others.

The talk of Rao quitting AAP was making rounds after he met and held discussions with Revenue Minister R Ashoka, Tamil Nadu BJP President and party's Karnataka polls co-incharge K Annamalai and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi.

Rao had emerged as one of the prominent members of AAP as he was given the responsibility as chairman of the party's manifesto committee. He had joined the party in April last after resigning from the Indian Police Service.

Rao was reportedly upset over an equation with certain party leaders especially in the state unit.