Congress’s Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy resigns as MLA

KARWAR: The desertions of political leaders, who were denied tickets, continued in both national parties. On Sunday, Pulakeshi Nagar Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivas Murthy has resigned from his post and handed over his resignation letter to Assembly Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri his residence in Sirsi.

After submitting his resignation, Srinivas Murthy spoke to media persons and said, “I I have only resigned from the post of MLA, not from the primary membership of Congress”. Srinivas Murthy is a contender for the Pulakeshi Nagar seat, but the Congress has not announced its candidate so far.

He said that he will hold a meeting with the party workers on Monday and decide on the future course of action later. He decided to contest as an independent candidate. The leaders of the constituency said that they will discuss with the supporters and take decisions. “The party denied me the ticket going by what the leaders of some neighbouring constituencies said. We were all like brothers, even though there were riots in K J Halli and DJ Halli. The leaders who went to jail earlier have pressured the party to deny ticket for me. My father was the Congress block president for 40 years, so, I have faith in the senior leadership”.

Karnataka is slated to go to Assembly polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13.

With less than a month to go for Karnataka Assembly polls, the Congress on Saturday released its third list of 43 candidates.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah was not named from the Kolar constituency, with the grand old party, instead, fielding Kothur G Manjunath.

The Congress declared 124 candidates in its first list and another 42 in the second list for the State Assembly elections