JD(S) leader Umesh Katti resigns to join BJP

Bangalore, Aug 18 (UNI) Depleted Janata Dal (Secular) suffered yet another jolt, when party legislator and former Karnataka Minister Umesh Katti resigned to Karnataka assembly and announced his decision to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Mr Katti, elected to the Legislative Assembly from Hukkeri seat in the May 2008 elections submitted his resignation to the Legislative Assembly Speaker today.

Speaker Jagadish Shettar announced the acceptance of the resignation of My Katti.

Mr Katti said that he was frustrated with family politics played by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and his sons.

Mr Katti is the sixth sitting legislator, including three from Congress, who had quit their assembly seat and joined BJP. The state BJP have launched 'operation Kamala' to lure opposition into BJP fold in their preparations to win more number of Lok Sabha seats in the coming elections. Some more legislators belonging to both JD(S) and Congress also likely to desert their parties and join BJP.

Reacting to Mr Katti's resignation, former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy said that "Mr Katti's resignation will not have any adverse impact on the party. Doors are always open to those who want to go out disagreeing with the party's principles and at the same time we welcome those who agree with the party's ideologies." Welcoming to the party fold, BJP State President D V Sadananda Gowda said that "we are not forcing any legislators to join BJP, but by agreeing to adhere to the party's ideology and principles want to join our doors are always open." UNI MSP MV TS1620