Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was in control of “very few people” and that he was forcefully thrown out of the party. Shettar made these comments after he quit BJP and joined Congress this morning ahead of the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls. He resigned as the Hubli-Dharwad (Central) MLA on Sunday after the BJP denied him a ticket, reported PTI.
After joining the Congress, Shettar alleged that he had been humiliated by the BJP by denying him a ticket and that party is today in the control of "very few people." "I was forcefully thrown out of the party that I built...I'm joining the Congress by accepting its ideology and principles," he told reporters.
The 67-year-old six-time MLA joined the Congress party in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala (Karnataka in-charge), Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar and Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, among others.
Shettar decided to leave BJP after he was asked by the party's top brass to make way for others, but he on his part had asserted he wanted to contest one last time.
On his arrival in Bengaluru from Hubballi on Sunday night, Shettar had held discussions with Congress leaders Surjewala, Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, former minister and campaign committee chief M B Patil and veteran party leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Shettar's relative).
Political observers are of the view that the Lingayat leader’s decision may adversely affect the BJP's prospects in a number of segments in the region, the report stated.
Shettar, a veteran BJP leader whose family has been associated with the party since Jana Sangh days, is an influential leader from its bastion of Kittur Karnataka region. While in the BJP he had served as a Minister, Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, and chief minister.