Operation Lotus: Karnataka Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav resigns, set to join BJP
As the Karnataka Assembly boils down in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, rebel Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav has resigned from the party and is likely to join BJP.
The ‘Operation Lotus’ which was deemed to be in news after four Congress MLA’s rebelled during the Assembly session and were nowhere to be seen with the party high command.
A senior BJP leader aware of the situation has stated that Jadhav might join BJP oon March 6, when PM Narendra Modi would be holding a public rally in Gulbarga. He said, “It is almost confirmed that he will be our candidate in Gulbarga against Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge.”
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dinesh Gundu Rao: Dr. Umesh Jadhav's resignation was a forgone 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. #Bengaluru pic.twitter.com/6kf9Ad8vrU
— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2019
Karnataka Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao, on Jadhav’s resignation said, “Dr. Umesh Jadhav's resignation was a forgone 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.”
Amidst the resignation of an MLA, the talks between Congress-JDS to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha election has been ongoing and former CM Siddaramaiah has said, “We have had a good discussion, we are going in the right direction. In a few days, we will give the final picture.”
BJP is thriving to get the support of 8 MLA’s to stake claim to form the government in Karnataka and the recent breakaway of rebel MLA’s from Congress, could be a game changer ahead of the polls.
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First published: 4 March 2019, 13:41 IST