Tumakuru: After turning rebel against Congress and filing his nomination as an independent, sitting MP of Tumakuru, Muddahanumegowda has withdrawn his nomination which would have had him as the opponent of JD(S) chief Deve Gowda.

Earlier in Mysuru, speaking to reporters, Congress leader Siddaramaiah had said that he will withdraw his nomination.

Siddaramaiah said that he has promised to provide justice to him, indirectly hinting at offering a plum post to the sitting MP of Tumakuru. Muddahanumegowda had filed nomination as an independent candidate against JD(S) chief Deve Gowda (supported by Congress) in Tumakuru as he did not get B Form from the party to contest. Today (March 29) is the last date to withdraw nomination for the first phase of election (on April 18) in Karnataka.

He had also filed nomination on March 25 as Congress candidate, but that was considered invalid as the party did not provide him with a B-form.

Reacting to the rejection, Muddahanumegowda had said that he would take a decision only after speaking to the leaders and well-wishers.

On the other hand, Congress leader B K Hariprasad had told media in Tumakuru that If Muddahanumegowda did not withdraw his nomination, he would be expelled from the party. “Candidates who rebel and contest elections will be expelled from the party,” he said. Hariprasad is the Congress candidate from Bengaluru South constituency and key opponent of Tejasvi Surya of the BJP.