Karnataka Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav has resigned from the assembly. MLA from Chincholi, Jadhav is likely to join BJP and contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Currently Congress- JD(S) alliance is ruling the state and there are several Congress MLAs who have showed signs of jumping the ship. So in that regard, Jadhav's quitting will come as a blow to the Congress party which is struggling to keep its flock together. Jadhav hailing from Kalaburgi is a doctor by profession. He is widely expected to contest Lok Sabha election from Kalaburgi against Congress leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.

Jadhav had several run-ins with both Mallikarjun and Priyank Kharge. He had complained to the Congress high-command that he couldn't do his work properly due to 'interference' from the Kharges. However, his complaint fell deaf ears. Hence, Jadhav has now decided to leave Congress. Increasingly Jadhav's differences with the state leadership was widening and he was removed from the post of Chairman of Warehouse Cooperation last month.

Congress and JD(S) are yet to reach seat-sharing deal in Karnataka. Congress is focussing on 'winnability' and is not keen on giving 12 seats to JD(S), which they have demanded.