The sitting Karnataka BJP MLC, Puttanna on Thursday resigned as MLC and also from the primary membership of the saffron party citing "personal reasons", as reported by news agency ANI. 

Following his resignation, the state Congress unit and the former BJP MLC convened a press conference. Siddaramaiah, MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, and DK Shivakumar, attended the conference.

"AICC general secretaries Surjewala , KPCC president DK Shivakumar, assembly opposition leaders Siddaramaiah held a joint media conference at KPCC office with Puttanna, who has resigned from BJP membership and MLC post," tweeted Karnataka Congress.

He joined the Congress party in the presence of AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, LoP Siddaramaiah & Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar. 

In his letter to the Speaker of the legislative council, Puttanna said, "I am a member of Vidhan Parishad from the teachers' field and am resigning from the membership of Vidhan Parishad due to my personal reasons. They have requested to accept my resignation." 

Shortly after, Randeep Singh Surjewala attacked the BJP following the resignation of Puttanna.

Taking to Twitter, Surjewala said, "Suffocated & stifled by the #40PercentSarkara & its anti-youth, anti-teacher policies, Sh Puttanna, BJP MLC today resigned as MLC & from BJP Membership. He has 4 years tenure as MLC remaining. We at @INCKarnataka commend his bold and courageous move. BJP's reverse count is on."

Notably, the former Janata Dal (Secular) leader joined BJP on Mar 17, 2020 at the residence of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa after being kicked out of the JD(S) for 'anti-party' acts.

Puttanna had then claimed that he had invitations from both BJP and Congress.

Image courtesy: ANI