Kalburgi, March 6: Disgruntled with Congress after being denied a cabinet berth, rebel party leader Umesh Jadhav on Wednesday joined the BJP in Karnataka ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The leader changed his course just weeks ahead of the election in the state, of whose dates would be announced in few days by the Election Commission.

Expressing his happiness to join BJP, the former Congress leader said, as the Hindustan Times quoted, “I am very happy and very proud to be part of BJP. They have welcomed me very well. I beg you to give me a chance because a nationalist party and Modi have gained world renown.” Congress MLA Dr Umesh Jadhav Submits Resignation to Karnataka Assembly Speaker, Likely to Join BJP. 

The leader was expressing his views at the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s event in Kalaburagi. Earlier, Jadhav had submitted his resignation to the Speaker of the Karnataka assembly on March 4. Asking the people to give him another opportunity, Jadhav said, “We have to write a new history in Kalburgi. We need your support. I beg the people to give me an opportunity.”

With the resignation of Jadhav – two-time MLA from the Chincholi constituency – the strength of the house has come down to 223. Now the JDS-Congress has a strength of 116 members plus the Speaker, while BJP has 104 members.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 06, 2019 05:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).