Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Jan 25: Ramesh Jarkiholi, Mahesh Kumthalli and B Nagendra, three of the four disgruntled Congress legislators, have responded to Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Siddaramaiah's show-cause notice and said that they are still with the party.

The four MLAs were under the party's scanner after they skipped last Friday's CLP meeting.

The meeting was called to show unity among Congress legislators amid the alleged threat from BJP of poaching some of them. These four MLAs were said to be in touch with the BJP.

Jarkiholi has said in his response that he was busy preparing for his daughter's wedding. He has stressed that there is no question of him quitting the party.

Kumthalli has also cited personal reasons while maintaining his allegiance to the Congress.

Nagendra in his response said that he could not attend the CLP meeting because of a court case hearing. He has also said that he had not met any BJP leaders.

Jarkiholi and Kumthalli sent their responses on Thursday.

The fourth legislator Umesh Jadhav is yet to respond to the notice.