Karnataka: JD(S) MLA From Gubbi SR Srinivas Resigns, Set To Join Congress

Srinivas, MLA from Gubbi seat, submitted his resignation to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker on Monday.

Janata Dal ( Secular) MLA S R Srinivas.

Source : Twitter/@srinivas_gubbi

Janata Dal (Secular) MLA SR Srinivas alias Gubbi Srinivas on Monday resigned from the party and his post as a legislator in the Karnataka Assembly and is likely to join Congress later this week, PTI reported. Srinivas, MLA from Gubbi seat, submitted his resignation to the Karnataka Assembly Speaker.

"After my resignation is accepted (by the Speaker) I will discuss with Congress leaders about joining the Congress officially. I'm planning to join Congress officially on March 31, after discussing with taluk leaders, I will decide," PTI quoted SR Srinivas as saying.

ಇಂದು ವಿಧಾನಸಭೆಯ ಮಾನ್ಯ ಸಭಾಪತಿಗಳಾದ ವಿಶ್ವೇಶ್ವರ ಹೆಗಡೆ ಕಾಗೇರಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಭೇಟಿಯಾಗಿ ನನ್ನ ಶಾಸಕ ಸ್ಥಾನಕ್ಕೆ ರಾಜೀನಾಮೆಯನ್ನು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದೆ. pic.twitter.com/n9iSQwt08s

— S R Srinivas (@srinivas_gubbi) March 27, 2023

The JD(S) had expelled Srinivas from the party, accusing him of cross-voting in the June 2022 Rajya Sabha polls. The party claimed that it contributed to the defeat of its candidate D Kupendra Reddy.

The JD(S) had even moved a petition to have him, along with another MLA K Srinivas Gowda from Kolar, disqualified under the anti-defection law, news agency PTI reported.

"In October 2021, (HD) Kumaraswamy announced a JD(S) candidate from my seat even as I was still in the party. From that day, the distance between us widened. He had also made certain false allegations against me, like holding me responsible for Deve Gowda's defeat in 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Tumakuru. I had never done such anti-party activity and had honestly served the party," Srinivas said.

The former JD(S) leader, however, said he was quitting the party with a "lot of pain". He claimed that he was expelled from the party on false allegations last year.

"I had worked under the leadership of (HD) Deve Gowda and (HD) Kumaraswamy in JD(S) for about 20 years, today I'm resigning as that party MLA with a heavy heart and a lot of pain," PTI quoted Srinivas as saying.

"Deve Gowda had treated me like a son and encouraged me to work, I thank him wholeheartedly. Kumaraswamy too used to treat me like his own younger brother, but not sure as to what made him oust me from the party," he further said.