Speaker will accept my resignation: Umesh Jadhav

Congress’ rebel Umesh Jadhav on Tuesday said he was confident Assembly Speaker K R Ramesh Kumar would accept his resignation as Chincholi legislator.

Jadhav, after submitting his resignation to Kumar, joined the BJP and is tipped to be the saffron party’s candidate to take on veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge from the Gulbarga Lok Sabha seat.

“I’m 100% confident my resignation will be accepted,” Jadhav told reporters. When asked if his resignation was kept pending deliberately, he said: “The Speaker won’t listen to anyone, even God. I’m sure he will accept my resignation as per law. There’s no reason for my resignation to be rejected.”

Kumar had scheduled for Tuesday a hearing on a petition seeking the disqualification of Jadhav and three other Congress rebels - Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), B Nagendra (Bellary) and Mahesh Kumathalli (Athani). The Congress has accused them of indulging in anti-party activity. However, the hearing was called off amid speculation that the Congress wanted to buy time in order to try convincing Jarkiholi and others to not resign like Jadhav.

“If another hearing is fixed, my lawyer will take care of it. I will appear for the hearing if required,” Jadhav said.

Also, Kumar had sought clarification from Jadhav on his resignation. “I have given my clarification,” Jadhav said, after holding talks with Assembly secretariat staff.