Kalburgi: In a major setback to the BJP and its nominee from Afzalpur in the imminent Assembly polls Malikayya Guttedar, over a 100 party activists, including office-bearers of the party structure at various levels and elected representatives, have resolved to quit the BJP to join the Congress.

At a press confenerece here, M.Y. Patil, a senior leader who recently quit the BJP to join the Congress after his arch-rival Guttedar left the Congress and joined the BJP, released a collective resignation letter which was signed by over 100 local leaders.

Those who have signed the resignation letter included BJP’s district unit secretary Prakash S. Jamadar, district farmers wing vice-president Tukaramgowda Patil, State unit member Shivananda Gadi, mandal vice-presidents Bhimaraya Gaura, Bhasha Patel Hasaragundi, Bhiranna Pujari and Mandal secretaries Sharanu Kumbar, Manjunath S., Ashok Sidagante, Nijaguna Chakravarthi, Yallanagowda Patil and Siddamma Guled.

Mr. M.Y. Patil, who is likely to be the Congress candidate in Afzalpur, claimed that 10 taluk panchayat members, five zilla panchayat members, a majority of Afzalpur Town Municipal Council members and a large section of party workers were supporting him. “Taluk panchayat and municipal council members would tender resignation to the BJP and join me in the Congress as their action doesn’t attract the anti-defection law. Zilla panchayat members, however, will not officially quit the party in view of the law. Most of the zilla panchayat members are women. They will technically continue to be in BJP, but their husbands will practically campaign for the Congress,” he said.

On denial of BJP ticket to him, Mr. M.Y. Patil said that the party leadership preferred Mr. Guttedar over him as he had assured the party leadership that he would ensure a victory of the party candidates in at least 15 constituencies in the Hyderabad Karnataka region.

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Bengaluru: Lokayukta sleuths on Tuesday carried out raids at multiple locations linked to eight government officers who are accused of amassing wealth disproportionate to their known source of income, official sources said.

In coordinated raids, the sleuths swooped down at the houses, offices, and other locations linked to the accused officers.

The Names of the officers targeted in the raids, according to Lokayukta, are: Prakash, BBMP assistant engineer at Govindraj Nagar in Bengaluru; Dr S Pradeep, Associate Research Director, Organic Farming, Shivamogga; Latha Mani, Accounts officer, Town Municipality, Chikkamagaluru; KG Amarnath, Chief Officer, Town Municipality, Anekal in Bengaluru; Dhruvaraj, Town Police Inspector, Gadag; Ashok Vasanad, engineer, Malaprabha Project, Dharwad; Mallikarjun Alipur, executive engineer, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Kalaburagi.

The Lokayukta sources said Vasanad owned a lavish bungalow in Dharwad. They found gold and silver ornaments from his house during the raid.