Kalaburagi: Ending nearly two months of speculation.Congress MLA from Chincholi, Dr Umesh Jadhav who submitted his resignation to Speaker Ramesh Kumar and later resigned from the primary membership of the party on Monday, is set to join the BJP on March 6 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kalaburagi.
He is tipped to be fielded as the BJP candidate from the Kalaburagi reserved seat against veteran Congress leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, according to sources.
Dr Jadhav, who went “missing” after Sankrantri along with three other legislators, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumathahali and B Nagendra, chose to tender his resignation on the auspicious day of Shivaratri.
According to observers, his resignation is part of a strategy evolved by the rebel group led by Mr Jarkiholi. "Although Dr Jadhav's decision to severe his ties with the Congress and join the BJP was expected, he has been claiming he has been confused of late on whether or not to quit the party.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle from Bengaluru, Dr Jadhav exuded confidence that the Speaker would accept his resignation. "There is no reason why he should not accept it," he said.
When his attention was drawn to the letter seeking disqualification of four MLAs, including him, by the Congress, Dr Jadhav replied, “We have given our reply and the question of our disqualification does not arise".
Asked whether decks have been cleared for his joining the BJP on March 6, Dr Jadhav replied, "my job his over; now it's their responsibility.”
