Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 29: Former chief minister and JD (S) state president H D Kumaraswamy, who was recently elected as a member of parliament (MP) from Bangalore Rural constituency, tendered his resignation to his assembly membership. He handed over the resignation letter to assembly speaker Jagadish Shettar here at Shettar’s residence, on Thursday May 28, affectively bringing down curtains on the speculations about his likely moves.

Speaking to the pressmen later, Kumaraswamy said he chose to retain his seat in the Lok Sabha to fight for setting right anomalies arising out of step-motherly treatment being meted out to the state by the union government. He also strongly rebutted rumours that alleged that he had camped at New Delhi for a week to bag a ministerial berth at the centre. "During my meeting with the Congress leaders, I discussed issues pertaining to the state's interests, nothing else," he stressed.

On Thursday, MP Mallikarjun Kharge, who took oath as a union minister, tendered his resignation as a state legislator. Before being administered the oath of office by President of India Pratibha Patil, he faxed his resignation letter to assembly speaker Jagadish Shettar.

To comply with the rule that the resignation should be tendered by the legislator either in person or through a representative, Congress leader V S Ugrappa handed over a copy of Kharge’s resignation letter to Shettar.