Former CM Jagadish Shettar joins Congress, to contest from Hubballi-Dharwad Central, says BJP in Karnataka is controlled by a few leaders for serving self-interest
The Hindu
Senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar joined the Congress ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections in the state.
Senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar joined the Congress ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections in the State. A few minutes after he joined the Congress on April 17, KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar handed over to Mr Shettar the ‘B’ form to contest elections from Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency.
Mr Shettar has won from this constituency six times since 1994. He had won all elections on the BJP ticket. He was denied a ticket by the ruling BJP to contest the Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections on May 10. For the first time, he would be contesting elections on the Congress ticket.
The 67-year-old Lingayat leader joined the Congress at the party office in Bengaluru in the presence of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC campaign Committee chairman M.B. Patil, and AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal.
Mr Kharge offered the Congress party’s flag and a bouquet to Mr Shettar.
Soon after joining the Congress, Mr Shettar said, “I quit the BJP and joined the Congress. Many in Karnataka are surprised that I have joined the Congress.
“There are discussions about me quitting the BJP. For the last several months, no one understood my pain. I built the party along with former Union Minister Ananth Kumar and former CM B.S. Yediyurappa. I built the party in north Karnataka. The BJP had given me several positions. I discharged my responsibilities sincerely.
“I have taken this decision after seeking the views of well-wishers. Believing in the Congress party’s principles, I joined the Congress now. A new chapter in my political life begins,” he said.
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