Belagavi: Dubbing Congress leaders, who had got him expelled from the party as those opposing development of North Karnataka, Devarhippargi MLA, A.S. Patil Nadahalli announced in Chikkodi that he will be joining Janata Dal (Secular) shortly and will contest from Muddebihal assembly constituency in the coming election.
Claiming that the role of regional parties was significant in the current political scenario in the country, Mr Patil said he had already identified himself with the Janata Dal (Secular) and had held talks with JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy on joining the party.
Recalling the circumstances that led to his ouster from the Congress, he said that he was expelled only because he warned the government that the demand for a separate North-Karnataka state would get stronger if the region was not developed.
“When I raised my voice against injustice being meted out to North Karnataka, party leaders branded me as anti-state and got me sacked. I am sure that people will get the Congress out of North Karnataka in the coming election,” he added.
People will also teach a fitting lesson to the Bharatiya Janata Party which did injustice to people of North Karnataka by halting the implementation of Mahadayi project, he said.
Urging the state government to hold the winter session of the legislature in Belagavi for 30 days, he called upon all 96 MLAs of north-Karnataka districts to break their silence in the House and raise major problems that had crippled the development of the region.
To create awareness among people of north-Karnataka about the prevailing situation in the region, he said, he would launch a Uttar Karnataka Swabhiman Yatra shortly.
