Senior Congress leader and Karnataka MlA Malikayya Venkayya Guttedar on Thursday announced
his decision to quit the ruling party and join the BJP ahead of the May 12 Assembly polls in the State.
Guttedar, a six-time MlA from Afzalpur and a former Minister in the State, was unhappy with the Congress and its State unit leadership as Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did not considering him for a berth in his council of Ministry.
Guttedar, who met Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa on Thursday, said he spoke to the Chief Minister on the phone before taking the decision.