Bengaluru: Nearly a month after Chincholi Congress MLA Umesh Jadhav tendered his resignation, Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar, on Monday, accepted the resignation, clearing the decks for Umesh Jadhav to contest as the BJP candidate against Congress veteran Mallikarjun Kharge in Kalaburagi (SC) LS seat.

Ramesh Kumar said he was convinced to accept Jadhav’s resignation as it was as per the format prescribed under Rule 202 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Karnataka Legislative Assembly and he had submitted his explanation in a certified manner.

Jadhav, who was elected on Congress ticket from Chincholi Assembly segment in Kalaburagi district in last year’s Assembly polls, resigned on Mar. 4.

He later joined the BJP and was declared as the saffron party’s candidate to take on Mallikarjun Kharge in Kalaburgi (SC) Lok Sabha seat.