Umesh Jadhav can’t just walk away: Siddaramaiah

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in the Karnataka Assembly, Siddaramaiah, said on Tuesday that the MLA from Chincholi, Umesh Jadhav, cannot resign and walk away when the party has sought his disqualification for anti-party activities.

Jadhav is set to join the BJP in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence in Kalaburagi on Wednesday. Jadhav plans to contest against Congress floor leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in Kalaburagi, according to BJP sources.

“Umesh Jadhav is a Congress MLA for a second term. He has fallen victim to BJP’s machinations. His resignation as MLA cannot be accepted till our application (seeking disqualification) is decided as per law. The Speaker will take a decision,” the former chief minister told reporters in Hubballi.


The Congress has also sought disqualification of Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), B Nagendra (Ballari Rural) and Mahesh Kumathalli (Athani) under the anti-defection law.

In a tweet later, Siddaramaiah said: “With respect to the resignation by Umesh Jadhav, the circumstantial evidence clearly suggests that he has fallen for #OperationKamala. People are saying that he has sold himself for money & power. If true, it is shameful on his part.”

The BJP, meanwhile, has displayed Jadhav’s name on the dais prominently, extending him a warm welcome to the party.

BJP leader R Ashoka dismissed Siddaramaiah’s objections about Jadhav.

“He has resigned as (Congress) MLA, and I don’t see a problem here. Jadhav is not involved in any anti-party activity as he has not disobeyed any whip in the Assembly,” he told ET.

Ashoka, who is overseeing the PM Modi’s Kalaburagi rally, said three more rallies are in the offing in the state. Modi will also interact with the beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat, the central government’s flagship healthcare insurance scheme, on Wednesday.

NO CONGRESS TICKET TO SUMALATHA
Siddaramaiah sought to put at rest speculation on whether actor Sumalatha will be given a Congress ticket to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Mandya. The question does not arise at all, he clarified. The seat is currently represented by the JD(S) in the Lok Sabha and, hence, the seat will go to that party itself. Whether Sumalatha wants to contest as an independent candidate is left to her choice, he said.