Karnataka crisis: Independent MLA H Nagesh resigns from Cong-JDS govt, extends support to BJP

Reacting to the development, state minister DK Shivakumar said that after resigning Nagesh had called him and said that he had been hijacked by Yeddyurappa’s PA and BJP. “Just now Mr Nagesh called me and said that he has been hijacked by Mr Yeddyurappas’ PA and BJP. By the time I reached the airport the flight had left.”

Karnataka CM H D Kumaraswamy arrives in Bengaluru, Sunday, from the US. (PTI)

An active member of the Congress party from Mulbagal, he was denied the Congress ticket and the party selected G Manjunath as the candidate. However, Nagesh won the polls from the constituency as an independent candidate.

If the resignation of the 13 MLAs is accepted by the Speaker on Tuesday the balance will shift in favour of the BJP. Following Nagesh’s support, the saffron party will have 106 seats, enough to stake claim to form the next government.

After giving his resignation, Nagesh boarded a special flight to Mumbai from HAL airport in Bengaluru. Meanwhile, Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa’s Personal Assistant Santhosh was spotted along with H Nagesh in the airport.

BJP leader and MP from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, Shobha Karandlaje said, “ We welcome Independent MLA Nagesh. We will accept anybody into our party who is from a non-political dispensation.” Further, she clarified that BJP is not in touch with any rebels of the Congress and JD(S), as long as they are with their parties.