Bengaluru/Mangaluru: In a dramatic development, Karnataka textiles, sugar, and agricultural marketing minister Shivanand S Patil Friday ‘resigned’ from his membership of the legislative assembly — with a rider: That expelled BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal must also step down.
The ‘resignation’ saga follows an escalating political confrontation between the two Lingayat leaders.

In a letter addressed to assembly Speaker U T Khader, Patil wrote: “I have accepted his [Yatnal’s] challenge and have decided to contest against him in an election. Hence, I’m resigning as MLA from Basavana Bagevadi.”
However, the letter added: “I request you (speaker) to accept my resignation only after Basangouda Patil Yatnal resigns from his MLA post and his resignation is accepted.”
Clarifying his stand, Patil further said: “My resignation has nothing to do with the Congress party or chief minister Siddaramaiah. Yatnal humiliated my family and challenged me. I accepted his challenge.”
Patil, who currently represents Basavana Bagevadi — also in Vijayapura — has declared his intent to contest from the Bijapur City seat if Yatnal resigns and contests against him.
Responding to Patil’s move, Yatnal exuded confidence that he could win an electoral contest from anywhere in the state.
Confirming receipt of the letter, Speaker Khader clarified that conditional resignations are not permissible under assembly rules and the same would be conveyed to Patil.
Calling Patil’s move a “drama”, Yatnal, who represents the Bijapur City assembly seat in Vijayapura district, added: “It is foolishness, and he should be ashamed of it. People with dignity will never impose conditions in a resignation letter.
“His resignation is just perfunctory. It is not a resignation at all, and it will not be accepted. A resignation letter needs only two lines, but he has put several conditions in it,” he further said.
Recently, Patil had joined a protest in Vijayapura City against Yatnal for his alleged derogatory remarks against Muslims and Patil. Congress MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar also took part in the protest.
Yatnal retaliated by challenging both Patil and Kashappanavar to resign from the assembly and contest against him. Yatnal accused Patil of depending on the Muslim vote and even called him an “agent of Pakistan”.
In a rather sarcastic jibe at what he termed as Yatnal’s personal attacks on him, Patil said: “When I was born, my father’s name was Patil. What can I do?”