Udupi, July 13: Upset over being denied a ministerial berth, ruling BJP MLA from Kundapur constituency Halady Srinivasa Shetty on Friday announced his decision to resign from the Assembly.
A three-time MLA and a popular leader of Udupi District, Mr Shetty is expected to submit his resignation letter in the office of Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah.
Speaking to media persons in Bangalore he said that "heeding" to the calls by his followers and voters of his Kundapur constituency he had decided to resign as MLA.
Accusing the BJP leadership of neglecting and cheating the coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, Mr. Shetty said that he had not aspired to become a minister and neither lobbied for a ministerial berth.
He accused the party of giving him last minute assurances and withdrawing the same, thereby cheating him. The party has cheated and insulted him and the voters of the coastal region, he said.
Meanwhile, people in Kundapur observed a bandh protesting against the "ill-treatment" meted out to their MLA after inviting him to swearing-in ceremony. His supporters staged a road blockade disrupting traffic.
Supporters of Mr. Shetty were seen protesting against the sidelining of their leader and even shouted slogans against Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for allegedly playing a part in ensuring that Mr. Shetty did not get a ministerial berth.
Barring state run KSRTC buses, all vehicles remained off the road and shops and business establishments downed shutters in Kundapur.
However, K S Eshwarappa, Deputy Chief Minister, told reporters in Mysore that D V Sadananda Gowda, who hails from Dakshina Kannada district, will be given a suitable post soon.
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