Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Rebel Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav on Monday quit the Congress and submitted his resignation to Karnataka Speaker Ramesh Kumar, according to state secretariat sources.
Jadhav, who appears to have sided with the rebel faction led by Ramesh Jarkiholi which threatened to topple the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in the state, is a two-time MLA from Chincholi in Kalbyrgi district, a bastion of senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.

Umesh Jadhav was reportedly unhappy with the “autocratic” style of Social Welfare Minister Priyank Kharge. Sources close to Jadhav told PTI he intends to join the BJP on Wednesday later this week.

Commenting on the legislator’s exit, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president Dinesh Gundu Rao said, ‘Umesh Jadhav’s resignation was a foregone conclusion because he had already sold himself to BJP. He is leaving the Congress party for his selfish motives. He can be called a betrayer’.

“He shouldn’t forget that whatever he’s today is because of Congress. Anyone can come and go but the party will remain forever,” Rao added. He asserted that the other Congress MLAs will remain with the party.

The Congress previously urged the Speaker to take action against Jadhav and three other rebels after they failed to attend the Congress Legislature Party meeting last month. The speaker is yet to take a call on that.

Earlier in January last month, Congress issued notices to the four MLAs seeking an explanation from them for their absence at the Legislature Party meeting, asking why no action should be taken against them under the anti-defection law.

KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre said Jadhav had ruined his career by quitting the party as the speaker is yet to take a decision on his disqualification. “Once disqualified, he cannot contest elections,” Khandre said.

Prior to this two Independent lawmakers have already pulled out their support from the coalition government.

With just weeks left for Lok Sabha Polls 2019, it is interesting to see the power crises in Karnataka where JD(S) and Congress in combine running the state. The Congress-JD(S) together has 117 MLAs in Karnataka Assembly with Congress 80 and the JDS 37, while BJP has 104in the 224-member Assembly. The halfway mark is 113.

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By talharashid

Part-time Traveler| Full-time Political Enthusiast | Foodie | Strong Believer of Freedom of Speech and Expressions!

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