Siddaramaiah tenders resignation

Former deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is set to join the Congress shortly, tendered his resignation from the membership of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.

Assembly speaker Krishna announced Siddaramaiah's resignation to the house. He intended to submit his resignation last Friday after addressing the house.

However, owing to the mining row, assembly proceedings have been stalled. Siddaramaiah, who was denied a chance to address the house on Tuesday, walked out of the assembly in protest. Subsequently, he tendered his resignation.

He is expected to leave for New Delhi on July 27 to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Siddaramaiah has been suspended from the Janata Dal (S) for 'anti-party' activities.

The former JD(S) state president was unceremoniously removed from the post of the deputy chief minister in the erstwhile Congress-JD(S) coalition government by JD(S) supremo and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

Siddaramaiah made his intentions clear to enter the legislative assembly by contesting the by-election from Chamundeshwari Assembly segment (Mysore), which he represents now.

He enjoys the support of seven legislators and they had petitioned the speaker seeking separate identity. Former Union minister C M Ibrahim, former minister A K Subbaiah and three former JD(S) MPs have joined the Siddaramaiah faction. The group, which identifies itself as All India Progressive Janata Dal, last month decided to merge into Congress.

The merger was discussed three times in New Delhi in Sonia Gandhi's presence. The Congress has reportedly agreed to accommodate Siddaramaiah's supporters in the party.