Trouble for the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka increased on Sunday as another of its MLAs, K M Shivalinge Gowda, resigned. He will join the Congress in the coming days and contest the polls from the Arasikere constituency in Hassan district, which he currently represents. “It is not a question of whether JD(S) has a future in the state. There were differences between me and party leaders that were not resolved. Therefore, I decided to leave the party," Shivalinge Gowda told reporters at Karwar following his resignation. The MLA said he was joining the Congress as his supporters from the constituency wanted the move. There was speculation about Shivalinge Gowda's resignation for over a month. Attempts by senior JD(S) leaders, including H D Revanna, to convince the MLA to stay in the party had failed. An audio of the conversation between the two leaders also got leaked recently. Shivalinge Gowda is the third MLA to resign from the party in a week. Four-time MLA from Gubbi S R Srinivas and Arkalgud MLA A T Ramaswamy are the other two legislators who have quit the party since the Model Code of Conduct came into force in the state. Srinivas was expelled by the JD(S) for alleged cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha polls last year. Ramaswamy's move to BJP came as a surprise as he was expected to join the Congress, even though both parties had evinced interest in the seasoned legislature. Another blow to the JD(S) during the week came after the Karnataka High Court ordered the disqualification of Gowri Shankar, who represented the Tumkuru Rural constituency, over election irregularities. The verdict has been stayed for a month because of the polls.
