Jagadish Shettar is prone to be part of the Congress immediately.
Bengaluru/New Delhi:
Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar joined the Congress immediately after being dropped by the BJP as a candidate for subsequent month’s election, changing into the second distinguished chief to modify sides since final week.
Mr Shettar, a distinguished Lingayat chief, resigned as an MLA and stop the BJP yesterday. He met with senior Congress leaders late final evening, flying from Hubballi to Bengaluru in a particular chopper.
Congress basic secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, the occasion’s Karnataka chief DK Shivakumar and veteran chief Siddaraimah had been current within the assembly in Bengaluru.
“I thought being a senior leader, BJP will give me the ticket, but when I came to know that I am not getting it, I was shocked. No one spoke to me nor tried to convince me. I was treated badly,” stated Jagadish Shettar after becoming a member of Congress.
“I was forcefully thrown out of the party that I built. I am joining the Congress by accepting its ideology and principles,” he added.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge known as Mr Shettar a “non-controversial” individual and stated that his induction will increase the passion of the occasion.
“I do not need to give more introduction about Jagadish Shettar. He is the person who not only wins alone, he is a person who is capable to win more seats,” Mr Kharge stated.
Siddaramaiah stated Mr Shettar is a “decent and secular” politician who all the time stood with the BJP.
“He was the opposition leader when I was the Chief Minster. He was an honest party worker in BJP and always stood with the party,” he stated.
Mr Shettar had been sulking since he was reportedly suggested by the BJP to sit down out the May 10 Karnataka election and never contest from his Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency.
He had threatened to contest by some means.
Mr Shettar had held a press convention final week saying that he obtained a name from Delhi the place a senior occasion functionary requested him to drop his candidature to make means for younger folks. He stated this was “not acceptable” to him.
“I am not the kind of person who is adamant and stubborn, but this time I am being stubborn because the party has humiliated me,” he stated.
The Lingayat chief additionally alleged there was a scientific conspiracy in opposition to him.
The BJP stated Mr Shettar has chosen himself over the occasion. Several choices got to Jagdish Shettar and the occasion by no means requested him to retire from politics, stated BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa, hitting out on the former chief minister.
“He was given several options including a ticket being promised to a family member. The party also offered him to make a Rajya Sabha member and a Union Minister,” he stated.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Jagadish Shettar personally on Saturday. Mr Bommai stated BJP has given the utmost variety of ministerships to the Lingayat group.
The Karnataka BJP has launched two lists of candidates for the meeting election to be held subsequent month, however 12 extra candidates – together with one for the Hubballi-Dharwad seat – are but to be introduced for the 224-member meeting.
Mr Shettar has gained six elections previously. He gained by over 21,000 votes within the final meeting election in 2018, defeating his Congress rival Mahesh Nalwad.
Senior chief Laxman Savadi had additionally stop the BJP and joined Congress final week. Laxman Savadi was additionally a loyalist of Mr Yediyurappa and a strong Lingayat chief.
Even earlier than the listing was introduced, one other senior chief, KS Eshwarappa, introduced his retirement from electoral politics. Sources say he had obtained hints that he can be dropped.
The outcomes of the Karnataka election will probably be declared on May 13.
