Karnataka Election 2023: Ex-CM Jagadish Shettar Joins Congress In Presence Of Kharge, Siddaramaiah
Former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who quit the BJP, joined the Congress party today after he was denied a ticket by the BJP.
Former Karnataka chied minister Jagadish Shettar on Monday joined the Congress party in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, state Congress president DK Shivakumar, former CM Siddaramaiah, and Congress leader Randeep Surjewala at the party office in Bengaluru. Jagadish Shettar resigned from BJP yesterday.
Addressing a press conference, Shettar said: "Yesterday I left BJP and today I joined the Congress party. Many are surprised as an opposition leader, former CM and party president is joining Congress. BJP has given me every position and being a party worker I always worked for the party's growth."
"I thought being a senior leader, I'll get the ticket, but when I came to know that I'm not getting it, I was shocked. No one spoke to me nor tried to convince me, not even gave assurance about what position will I get," he added dismissing claims by BJP leaders, news agency ANI reported.
#WATCH | Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar joins Congress, in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, KPCC president DK Shivakumar & Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Siddaramaiah at the party office in Bengaluru.
— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2023
Jagadish Shettar resigned from BJP yesterday. pic.twitter.com/vxqVuKKPs1
Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar said the party did not make any offer to Shettar: "There will be no demands from Jagadish Shettar, we don't offer anything. He (Jagadish Shettar) will have to agree with the principles and the leadership of the party. We want to keep the country united and only Congress can do that", ANI reported.
Wanted To Contest From Huballi-Dharwad Central Seat: Shettar On Exit From BJP
Jagadish Shettar on Sunday said that he wanted to contest the May 10 Assembly elections from Hubballi-Dharwad-Central but was denied the ticket. His decision came after the party's central leadership made it clear that he would not be given a ticket to contest the polls. He submitted his resignation to the Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri at Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district today.
"I wanted only the MLA seat for Hubballi-Dharwad-Central..." Jagadish Shettar told media persons, as quoted by news agency ANI.
"Why have they given tickets to 76-year-old people? I am 67, and so many elder persons are there. Why were they not replaced?" he questioned when asked about the BJP's reasoning that the party wanted to give opportunities to young leaders.
He held talks with senior Congress leaders last evening including party general secretary (Karnataka in-charge) Randeep Singh Surjewala, Congress state chief D K Shivakumar, former minister M B Patil, and veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa.
Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai in Hubballi said the BJP had promised him a big post in Delhi.
"Jagadish Shettar has been a senior and an important leader in this region. JP Nadda and Union Home Minister had promised a big post in Delhi to Shettar. Everything would have been fine if the former CM had continued," Bommai told the media, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Karnataka BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa criticised Shettar for his decision to quit the party saying the people would not pardon him.
This comes as a jolt to Karnataka BJP which recently lost former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi for denying him a ticket. He joined the Congress on Saturday and the party fielded him from the Athani constituency.
More On It: Wanted Hubballi-Dharwad Central Seat: Shettar On Exit From BJP. Yediyurappa Says, K'taka 'Won't Forgive'
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