New Delhi: Former Chief Minister of Karnataka and BJP leader Jagadish Shettar on Sunday confirmed his decision to resign from the BJP and state assembly, stating that he has been deeply hurt by the ill-treatment and humiliation from senior party leaders after he was denied a ticket from the party for the May 10 Assembly polls.













He announced that he will resign as an MLA and from the primary membership of the party.


He further added that he will decide on his next course of action later, including whether he will run independently or with another political party.




Speaking to ANI, Shettar said, "The ill-treatment and humiliation by the senior leaders of the party have hurt me a lot. My decision (to resign from BJP) is final. Some state leaders are mishandling the BJP system in Karnataka."



 

"I am going to tender my resignation as an MLA and I will also resign from the primary membership of the party. Later I will decide the next course of action, whether I have to fight independently or with a party," he further added.

 

The 67-year-old leader alleged a systematic “conspiracy” against him and said he “will tell everything after resigning.”


Even after being denied the ticket, Shettar, who was the leader of the Opposition during Congress’s stint in power said that he would contest the poll for sure. 


"I have decided to resign from the legislative assembly," a visibly upset Shettar told reporters.


He added that he has sought an appointment with the Speaker Vishveshwar Hegde Kageri, who is at Sirsi, and tender his resignation.


"With a heavy heart I will resign from the party. I am the one who has built and raised this party. They (some party leaders) created a situation for me to resign from the party," Shettar said.


"They (party leaders) have not understood Jagadish Shettar yet, for the way they humiliated me," Shettar said recalling his contribution to the BJP and the key posts, including that of assembly speaker, he held in the state. 


The announcement was made by the six-time MLA soon after his meeting with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, and Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi and Dharmendra Pradhan yielded no result. 


According to Shettar, the party high command had asked him not to contest the assembly election to make way for young people. However, he said he will contest the election come what may.