New Delhi: Congress leader Jagadish Shettar, who lost the Hubli-Dharwad Central seat to BJP candidate Mahesh Tenginakai, accused the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) of using the money factor and pressure tactics in the Karnataka Assembly elections to defeat him. Shettar also alleged that the saffron party distributed Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 to voters as a means to influence their voting preferences.
Speaking to ANI, Shettar said, "Money power played a very important role. Their (BJP) pressure tactics among the voters, pressure tactics because of power and IT (cell)... In the last six elections, I never distributed money to the voters. For the first time, BJP candidate, the BJP party distributed money Rs 500-1000 to the voters. All these factors have an edge on the BJP. "
When asked about his role within the Congress party, especially after being the face of BJP for some time, Shettar replied, "Whatever the Congress decides for the betterment of the party and for its strengthening, I will accept that."
While commenting on Congress' win in the State Assembly Elections, Shettar said, "What I told last week, that in the entire state, Congress will get a clear majority up to 130-140. In North Karnataka, wherever I went to campaign, all Congress candidates were elected and even where I did not go, most of the Lingayat candidates from the Congress have been elected."
"So, the Lingayat factor, what I raised is that BJP is neglecting the leaders of the community. After going to Congress, it spread out. It helped (Congress) in almost 20-25 constituencies," he claimed.
He also commented on BJP's defeat despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President JP Nadda coming to the state for the campaign. Shettar while talking to ANI said that this is definitely a setback. He said, "Everybody targeted Jagadish Shettar. Targeting me, they lost the entire Karnataka. They came to 64-65 seats, it’s a setback to the national and state leaders. What they have achieved? Defeating Jagadish Shettar is final? What is the last result? The ultimate result is important. They lost an important southern Indian state. Is it helpful for the next 2024 elections?"