Jagadish Shettar is more likely 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 outstanding chief to modify sides since final week.
Mr Shettar, a outstanding Lingayat chief, resigned as an MLA and give up the BJP yesterday. He met with senior Congress leaders late final evening, flying from Hubballi to Bengaluru in a particular chopper.
Congress common secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, the social gathering’s Karnataka chief DK Shivakumar and veteran chief Siddaraimah had been current within the assembly in Bengaluru.
“I assumed being a senior chief, BJP will give me the ticket, however after I got here to know that I’m not getting it, I used to be shocked. Nobody spoke to me nor tried to persuade me,” stated Jagadish Shettar after becoming a member of Congress.
Mr Shettar stated he was sad in regards to the method by which he was handled by the BJP management when he was denied the ticket.
“I used to be handled badly and forcefully thrown out of the social gathering that I constructed. I’m becoming a member of the Congress by accepting its ideology and ideas,” he stated.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge referred to as Mr Shettar a “non-controversial” particular person and stated that his induction will enhance the passion of the social gathering.
“I don’t want to provide extra introduction about Jagadish Shettar. He’s the one that not solely wins alone, he’s an individual who’s succesful to win extra seats,” Mr Kharge stated.
Siddaramaiah stated Mr Shettar is a “respectable and secular” politician who all the time stood with the BJP.
“He was the opposition chief after I was the Chief Minster. He was an sincere social gathering employee in BJP and all the time stood with the social gathering,” he stated.
Mr Shettar had been sulking since he was reportedly suggested by the BJP to sit down out the Could 10 Karnataka election and never contest from his Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency.
He had threatened to contest come what may.
Mr Shettar had held a press convention final week saying that he obtained a name from Delhi the place a senior social gathering functionary requested him to drop his candidature to make means for younger folks. He stated this was “not acceptable” to him.
“I’m not the type of one who is adamant and cussed, however this time I’m being cussed as a result of the social gathering has humiliated me,” he stated.
The Lingayat chief additionally alleged there was a scientific conspiracy towards him.
The BJP stated Mr Shettar has chosen himself over the social gathering. A number of choices got to Jagdish Shettar and the social gathering by no means requested him to retire from politics, stated BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa, hitting out on the former chief minister.
“He was given a number of choices together with a ticket being promised to a member of the family. The social gathering additionally supplied him to make a Rajya Sabha member and a Union Minister,” he stated.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated Residence 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 received six elections up to now. He received by over 21,000 votes within the final meeting election in 2018, defeating his Congress rival Mahesh Nalwad.
Senior chief Laxman Savadi had additionally give up 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 record 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 shall be declared on Could 13.