In a major blow to the ruling Congress in Karnataka, former chief minister S Bangarappa on Sunday announced his decision to quit the party.

"I have decided to leave the Congress," he told reporters at Harihar, near Davangere, on his way to his home district of Shimoga.

The announcement brings to an end speculation in the last few days that he would leave the Congress. He had reportedly been sulking over the treatment meted out to him by the party even after being cleared of corruption charges in the Classik Computer deal.

Representing Shimoga Lok Sabha constituency in the dissolved house, Bangarappa had been elected to the state assembly seven times from Sorab, a seat now held by his son and member of the S M Krishna ministry, Kumar Bangarappa.

Defence Minister and NDA convener George Fernandes had held talks with him in recent days, fuelling speculations about the former chief minister's future plans.