Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar tendered his resignation as Bharatiya Janata Party MLA on Sunday after he was denied a ticket from the party for the May 10 Assembly polls. The 67-year-old leader alleged a systematic “conspiracy” against him and said he “will tell everything after resigning.” Shettar said that he would also resign from the assembly, reported PTI.
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 tendered his resignation.
ALSO READ: Karnataka Elections: 'Fighter' Ravi Resigns From BJP's Primary Membership After Being Denied Ticket
"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.
"I am upset over the way they ignored me, which made me think I should not sit quietly and I must challenge them. In view of that I had been saying that I will contest this election," he said.
The Lingayat leader said he was never an indurate person but the party forced him to become one.
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.