Karnataka’s Ex Chief Minister, “Shocked” By BJP Move, Joins Congress

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar joined the Congress these days after being dropped via way of means of the BJP as a candidate for subsequent month`s election, turning into the second one outstanding chief to replace aspects when you consider that ultimate week.

Mr Shettar, a outstanding Lingayat chief, resigned as an MLA and end the BJP yesterday. He met with senior Congress leaders overdue ultimate night, flying from Hubballi to Bengaluru in a unique chopper.

Congress standard secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, the birthday birthday celebration’s Karnataka leader DK Shivakumar and veteran chief Siddaraimah had been gift withinside the assembly in Bengaluru.

“I idea being a senior chief, BJP will provide me the price price tag, however once I got here to understand that I am now no longer getting it, I became shocked. No one spoke to me nor attempted to persuade me. I became dealt with badly,” stated Jagadish Shettar after becoming a member of Congress.

“I became forcefully thrown out of the birthday birthday celebration that I built. I am becoming a member of the Congress via way of means of accepting its ideology and principles,” he added.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge known as Mr Shettar a “non-controversial” individual and stated that his induction will raise the keenness of the birthday birthday celebration.

“I do now no longer want to present greater creation approximately Jagadish Shettar. He is the person that now no longer most effective wins alone, he’s someone who’s succesful to win greater seats,” Mr Kharge stated.

Siddaramaiah stated Mr Shettar is a “respectable and secular” flesh presser who continually stood with the BJP.

“He became the competition chief once I became the Chief Minster. He became an sincere birthday birthday celebration employee in BJP and continually stood with the birthday birthday celebration,” he stated.

Mr Shettar have been sulking when you consider that he became reportedly suggested via way of means of the BJP to take a seat down out the May 10 Karnataka election and now no longer contest from his Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency. He had threatened to contest one manner or the other.

Mr Shettar had held a press convention ultimate week pronouncing that he acquired a name from Delhi in which a senior birthday birthday celebration functionary requested him to drop his candidature to make manner for younger people. He stated this became “now no longer acceptable” to him.

“I am now no longer the form of individual who’s adamant and cussed, however this time I am being cussed due to the fact the birthday birthday celebration has humiliated me,” he stated. The Lingayat chief additionally alleged there has been a scientific conspiracy towards him.

The BJP stated Mr Shettar has selected himself over the birthday birthday celebration. Several alternatives had been given to Jagdish Shettar and the birthday birthday celebration by no means requested him to retire from politics, stated BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa, hitting out at the previous leader minister.

“He became given numerous alternatives inclusive of a price price tag being promised to a own circle of relatives member. The birthday birthday celebration additionally presented him to make a Rajya Sabha member and a Union Minister,” he stated.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai stated Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Jagadish Shettar for my part on Saturday. Mr Bommai stated BJP has given the most range of ministerships to the Lingayat community.

The Karnataka BJP has launched lists of applicants for the meeting election to be held subsequent month, however 12 greater applicants – inclusive of one for the Hubballi-Dharwad seat – are but to be introduced for the 224-member meeting.

Mr Shettar has gained six elections withinside the past. He gained via way of means of over 21,000 votes withinside the ultimate meeting election in 2018, defeating his Congress rival Mahesh Nalwad.

Senior chief Laxman Savadi had additionally end the BJP and joined Congress ultimate week. Laxman Savadi became additionally a loyalist of Mr Yediyurappa and a effective Lingayat chief.

Even earlier than the listing became introduced, any other senior chief, KS Eshwarappa, introduced his retirement from electoral politics. Sources say he had acquired recommendations that he could be dropped. The effects of the Karnataka election might be declared on May 13.