BJP MLA from Chamaraja constituency H S Shankarlinge Gowda resigned from the Assembly on Saturday. If two more MLAs quit, the Shettar government will be in deep trouble.
The MLA met Speaker K G Bopaiah at the Vidhana Soudha on Saturday morning and tendered his resignation.
Though Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok and senior BJP leaders tried to persuade him to change his mind, Gowda was steadfast in his resolve.
According to sources, the Speaker has accepted the resignation.
‘No Surprise Element’
Shankarlinge Gowda’s resignation has not come as surprise as he had decided to join the JD(S) long ago. He originally belonged to the Janata Parivar and subsequently joined the BJP.
He had been representing the Chamaraja Assembly constituency since 1994. He was upset after he was denied a berth in the Ministry by three CMs — Yeddyurappa, Sadananda Gowda and Shettar. Since then, he had been openly criticising the party for neglecting loyal workers. He flayed the BJP for not fulfilling any promises made in its election manifesto.
“The State government ‘mishandled’ the Cauvery issue and made the people suffer. I am joining the JD(S) not for power and am optimistic of getting re-elected. The JD(S) will return to power and H D Kumaraswamy will become the chief minister again,” he added.