Madikeri: Congress party leader and Chairperson of Karnataka Forest Development Corporation Limited (KFDCL) quit the party to join Janata Dal (Secular) on March 2, thereby severing her 33-year-old link with the Congress.

Padmini, after ticket denial rebelled against Congress and submitted her nomination to contest as an independent candidate from the Virajpet Assembly Constituency. After senior Congress party leaders convinced her, she eventually withdrew her nomination.

However, in a sudden turn of events, she has joined JDS after party candidate from Virajpet Sanketh Poovaiah sought her support. She was welcomed into the party fold by JDS Supremo H D Devegowda at his residence in Padmanabhanagar. She has been made the vice president of the party.