<p>Former Tumkur Lok Sabha member S P Muddahanumegowda announced Thursday his decision to quit the Congress, a setback to the DK Shivakumar-led party ahead of the 2023 Assembly election.</p>.<p>Muddahanumegowda was miffed and sulking ever since he was sidestepped during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.</p>.<p>He announced his decision to quit after meeting Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar.</p>.<p>Muddahanumegowda said he would contest the 2023 Assembly election from the Kunigal constituency, which he represented for two terms.</p>.<p>“I have asked both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to relieve me from the party,” Muddahanumegowda, 68, said. “I have taken a definitive decision to contest from Kunigal where people want me in the fray during the next Assembly election.” </p>.<p>In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Muddahanumegowda was the sitting Tumkur MP when he was asked to vacate his seat for JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, who ended up losing.</p>.<p>“Since 1989 to 2019, I was denied the ticket four times. Various other political developments have brought me to this position,” Muddahanumegowda said, recalling how his Kunigal ticket went to K Lakkappa at the last minute in 1989.</p>.<p>After the 2019 snub, Muddahanumegowda said Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal had promised him a Rajya Sabha ticket. “They did not keep their word,” he said.</p>.<p>“While the Congress made me an MLA and MP, I can say with full responsibility and confidence that I’ve given the party much more in return,” Muddahanumegowda said.</p>.<p>There is no clarity on whether Muddahanumegowda will join the BJP. “My options are open,” he said, while denying that he was under the BJP’s scanner. “Am I in power to be poached under Operation Lotus? I'm just an ordinary worker,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>M D Lakshminarayana also quits</strong></p>.<p>Karnataka Congress' OBC department president M D Lakshminarayana, a former lawmaker, has resigned from the party. Lakshminarayana was upset with the state-of-affairs in the party and had recently lashed out at the Congress leadership. There is speculation that he would join the BJP.</p>
<p>Former Tumkur Lok Sabha member S P Muddahanumegowda announced Thursday his decision to quit the Congress, a setback to the DK Shivakumar-led party ahead of the 2023 Assembly election.</p>.<p>Muddahanumegowda was miffed and sulking ever since he was sidestepped during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.</p>.<p>He announced his decision to quit after meeting Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar.</p>.<p>Muddahanumegowda said he would contest the 2023 Assembly election from the Kunigal constituency, which he represented for two terms.</p>.<p>“I have asked both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to relieve me from the party,” Muddahanumegowda, 68, said. “I have taken a definitive decision to contest from Kunigal where people want me in the fray during the next Assembly election.” </p>.<p>In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Muddahanumegowda was the sitting Tumkur MP when he was asked to vacate his seat for JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, who ended up losing.</p>.<p>“Since 1989 to 2019, I was denied the ticket four times. Various other political developments have brought me to this position,” Muddahanumegowda said, recalling how his Kunigal ticket went to K Lakkappa at the last minute in 1989.</p>.<p>After the 2019 snub, Muddahanumegowda said Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal had promised him a Rajya Sabha ticket. “They did not keep their word,” he said.</p>.<p>“While the Congress made me an MLA and MP, I can say with full responsibility and confidence that I’ve given the party much more in return,” Muddahanumegowda said.</p>.<p>There is no clarity on whether Muddahanumegowda will join the BJP. “My options are open,” he said, while denying that he was under the BJP’s scanner. “Am I in power to be poached under Operation Lotus? I'm just an ordinary worker,” he said.</p>.<p><strong>M D Lakshminarayana also quits</strong></p>.<p>Karnataka Congress' OBC department president M D Lakshminarayana, a former lawmaker, has resigned from the party. Lakshminarayana was upset with the state-of-affairs in the party and had recently lashed out at the Congress leadership. There is speculation that he would join the BJP.</p>
