Karnataka Polls: Ex-CM Jagadish Shettar To Join Congress After Quitting BJP

Former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who quit the BJP, is expected to join the Congress party today after he was denied a ticket by the BJP.

File photo of former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar who is expected to join the Congress today.

Source : Twitter/@JagadishShettar

Former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who quit the BJP on Sunday, will soon join the Congress party. He reached the Congress office in Bengaluru on Monday. It is believed that the grand old party will give him a poll ticket as it did for Laxman Savadi.

"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": Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar told the media, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, DK Shivakumar, and Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, former chief minister Siddaramaiah also reach the Congress office in Bengaluru.

#WATCH | Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, KPCC president DK Shivakumar & Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Siddaramaiah reach party office in Bengaluru.

Jagadish Shettar will be joining Congress, after resigning from BJP yesterday. pic.twitter.com/Gk8LQPalb1

— ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2023

Wanted To Contest From Hubali-Dharwad Central Seat: Shettar On Exit From BJP

Jagadish Shettar on Sunday said that he wanted to contest the May 10 Assembly elections from Hubali-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 Hubali-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 opportunity 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 Hubali-Dharwad Central Seat: Shettar On Exit From BJP. Yediyurappa Says, K'taka 'Won't Forgive'