Jagadish Shettar, Karnataka’s prominent Lingayat leader, joined the Congress party on Monday morning in Bengaluru. In the presence of the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge and KPCC president DK Shivakumar, he joined the Congress.
Shettar met with DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, and Randeep Surjewala in Bengaluru on Sunday evening and explained his terms to them. He is also expected to receive the Congress ticket for the Hubballi-Dharwad central constituency. Jagadish Shettar is a six-time MLA who has served as Karnataka’s Chief Minister and as the BJP’s state president. The BJP denied him a ticket for the assembly elections this time.
Meanwhile, Jagadish Shettar has slammed the BJP, claiming that it has humiliated and mistreated him. “The BJP leaders humiliated and mistreated me,” he said. A few state leaders are abusing the BJP system, which is harmful.”
Karnataka Chief Minister Bommai stated that his departure from the party may have an impact. ‘Jagadish Shettar is a senior leader, and his departure will have an impact on the party. We attempted to appease him by offering a key position in New Delhi as well as an assembly ticket to a member of his family. But Shettar was adamant about his assembly ticket and refused to accept our terms. We will overcome his influence in the Hubballi-Dharwad region.”
Former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa also lashed out at Jagadish Shettar, saying that his decision had made him unhappy. “Jagadish Shettar should set a good example for the next generation.” If he runs for Congress on a Democrat ticket, I will personally campaign in his district to ensure his defeat. “The Lingayat will always support the BJP,” he added.
