A day after quitting the Bharatiya Janatha Party, former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar joined the Congress on Monday.The BJP has denied a MLA ticket to Shettar for the upcoming assembly elections due on May 10.This comes as a big blow to BJP which can cost heavily in elections.
Jagadish Shettar, a prominent Lingayat leader, resigned as an MLA and quit the BJP yesterday.
He met with senior Congress leaders late last night, flying from Hubballi to Bengaluru in a special chopper.Shettar had been sulking since he was reportedly advised by the BJP to sit out the May 10 Karnataka election and not contest from his Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency.
Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, the party’s Karnataka chief DK Shivakumar and veteran leader Siddaraimah were present in the meeting in Bengaluru.
Shettar said he was unhappy about the manner in which he was treated by the BJP leadership when he was denied the ticket.“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,” said Jagadish Shettar after joining Congress.
“I was treated badly and forcefully thrown out of the party that I built.I am joining the Congress by accepting its ideology and principles,” he said.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge called Mr Shettar a “non-controversial” person and said that his induction will boost the enthusiasm of the party.
“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 said.
