Bengaluru, 2 May 

Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader on Friday said Minister Shivanand Patil's "conditional resignation" as MLA cannot be accepted as per rules.

This decision from the Speaker came hours after Patil met him and submitted his resignation as MLA from the Basavana Bagevadi segment, stating that he was doing so, accepting the challenge thrown at him by Vijayapura City MLA, Basangouda Patil Yatnal to contest against him electorally.

Patil, who holds Textiles, Sugarcane Development and Agricultural Marketing portfolios, has, however, requested the Speaker to accept his resignation, only if Yatnal too quits and his resignation is accepted.

Patil said Yatnal had challenged him, stating that he would resign as MLA from his Vijayapura City assembly constituency and would contest against him from his Basavana Bagevadi segment.

Yatnal had won from Vijayapura in 2023 Assembly polls as a BJP candidate. He was recently expelled by BJP from the primary membership of the party for six years, for repeated violations of the party discipline.

Khader said Patil's resignation will be examined, and a decision will be taken in accordance with the Constitution and rules. "He (Patil) had resigned, stating that it was a question of his dignity, as a challenge was thrown at him. Let's see what happens," he said.

Responding to a question about the format of the resignation, the Speaker said, "It is not as per rules and hence cannot be accepted."

Patil told reporters Yatnal had set the Friday deadline for him to resign.

"Let this end here. Either I or he should survive politically. The people of Vijayapura or Basavana Bagevadi will decide. So I have resigned," he added.

"I have no pain about losing a minister post. When I quit as MLA, naturally I will have to quit as minister too," he added.

Patil also hit out at Yatnal for commenting that his family's original surname was "Hachadad" and not Patil, and for making personal remarks against him. "When I was born, my father's name was Patil. What can I do...." he said.

However, Yatnal, speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, said he had made it clear that Patil's resignation should be accepted and a gazette notification regarding it should be published by Friday. "Please go through the video of what I had said (while challenging)."