Delay in accepting resignation: Jadhav sees conspiracy

BJP nominee from Gulbarga Lok Sabha constituency, Umesh Jadhav, has accused the top Congress leaders in the state of conspiracy behind the delay in accepting his resignation as a member of Legislative Assembly.

Umesh Jadhav, who was elected as MLA on Congress ticket from Chincholi in 2018 Assembly elections, had submitted his resignation to Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar on March 4.

Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Jadhav said, “It’s been two weeks since I submitted my resignation to the membership of Legislative Assembly, but the Speaker has not accepted it. Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao and KPCC working president Eshwar Khandre are behind the undue delay in accepting the resignation. All these leaders are the puppets of Mallikarjun Kharge,” he alleged.

“I have faith in Speaker Ramesh Kumar. He has summoned me for hearing (disqualification plea filed by the Congress) on March 24. He may accept my resignation on March 25,” Jadhav said.

“Many Congress leaders and workers are quitting the party because of the suffocating atmosphere in the grand old party. Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyank Kharge are utilising grants in select few constituencies. I had brought this to the notice of the party leaders. But they didn’t respond to my pleas. Hence, I took the decision to quit the party,” he explained. There is a Modi wave in Gulbarga constituency. Youths, in particular, want to see Modi as prime minister again. I am confident of wresting the seat from Congress and Kharge, he added.

Slip of tongue moment

Umesh Jadhav sprang a surprise at the press meet at his residence on Saturday, saying, “There won’t be the BJP government in the state, henceforth.” Realising his gaffe, Jadhav soon got into damage control mode. It was a slip of tongue. The Congress (coalition) government will fall soon, he said.