Siddaramaiah resigns from Karnataka Assembly

Rebel JD (S) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah resigned from the Karnataka Assembly on Tuesday evening and left for New Delhi to hold talks with Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Siddaramaiah, who is tipped to join the Congress party, submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker of Karnataka’s Legislative Assembly Krishna after he was denied a chance to a statement in the House outlining the reasons for his decision to quit the Assembly.

When the Assembly met on Tuesday morning, Siddaramaiah renewed his plea with the Speaker to give him a chance to make his resignation statement on the floor of House. The Congress party too rallied behind Siddaramaiah and accused the Speaker, who belongs to the JD (S), of showing “partiality” while conducting the proceedings of the august House.

With the Speaker making it clear that he will not change his ruling in the matter, Siddaramaiah and the Congress walked out of the House. Later, on Tuesday afternoon Mr Siddaramaiah went to the Speaker’s chamber and submitted his resignation from the Assembly.

He left for New Delhi, where he is scheduled to meet senior Congress leaders and formalize his entry into the Congress fold.