Udupi: For a long time, rumours that State Minister for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports and Udupi district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj would quit the Congress party to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were making the rounds.

Although the minister dropped several hints that the rumours were not rooted in facts, he never made an official announcement to put the speculation to rest.

Now, for the first time since the rumours began, Pramod Madhwaraj has finally taken a step to shut down the speculations by releasing a statement on social media.

In a tweet, the minister said: “I have made clear several times and I am making it clear again that I am not quitting Congress party and I am not joining any other party.”