4 JDS rebels resign from party, set to join Cong

Ahead of assembly polls, the JD(S) today suffered a setback when four of its rebel MLAs resigned from the Karnataka Assembly, a day after cross voting in favour of Congress' Rajya Sabha candidates.

B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, R Akhanda Srinivasamurthy, N Chaluvaraya Swamy and Bheema Naik submitted their resignations to Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad at his residence here.

The MLAs are likely to join Congress in a day or two, said sources close to them.

The four MLAs were among the seven who rebelledagainst their party and been vocal against the party leadership, especially H D Kumaraswamy, JDS state unit chief and son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.

Koliwad told reporters he had accepted the resignations because they were in order.

"Today Chaluvaraya Swamy,B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, RAkhanda Srinivasamurthy and Bheema Naik have resigned from the legislative assembly. When I asked them personally, they said they resigned on their own without political pressure or any duress. I have accepted their resignations," he said.

Speaking to reporters after resigning, Khan said he decided to walk out of JD(S) because it has become "a party ofoneupmanship."