In a major setback to Karnataka BJP, two Lingayat leaders HD Thammaiah and KS Kiran Kumar on Sunday joined Congress along with 100 other party leaders.
HD Thammaiah, who has been working for the BJP for close to 2 decades, expressed displeasure for not being given the election ticket from Chikmagalur and tendered his resignation.
Meanwhile, Kiran Kumar, another staunch supporter of BS Yediyurappa also quit the saffron party for not getting due recognition.
Both the leaders were welcomed by KPCC chief DK Shivakumar.