In a major blow to the ruling BJP in the state ahead of the Karnataka elections, former chief minister Jagadish Shettar has resigned from the legislature.
All the party’s efforts to pacify Shettar failed. He submitted his resignation from the assembly membership at the office of Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri in Sirsi town of Uttara Kannada district on Sunday.
Asked whether he would withdraw his decision if the party decides to fulfill his demand , Shettar said, I have taken a decision and have moved on. I will definitely contest the election.
Asked whether he will join the Congress party, Shettar said he has not taken any decision yet and will make an announcement in this regard soon after submitting his resignation from the primary membership of the party.
Sources said when Shettar reached the Speaker’s office to submit his resignation, at the last moment An attempt was made to compromise.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Shettar over the phone and asked him to stay with the party.
However, Shettar did not heed his request and submitted his resignation and walked out of Kageri’s office.
Shettar said that he was not a troublemaker, and that he did not have any CDs (by several senior BJP ministers in his personal referring to the allegations of backing down on the threat of disclosure of the CD).
He said, I formed the party when the party was not in power. The party is powerful under the leadership of PM Modi. But, We are being thrown out of the party. Sources said that State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar has booked a special helicopter in the name of one of his confidants to take Jagadish Shettar from Hubli to Bengaluru.
Shettar is a six-time MLA and represents the Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency. This time he was denied the ticket, due to which he chose to walk out of the party.
“I feel like I have been thrown out of my house,” Shettar said. Former CM B.S. Yediyurappa
reacting to Shettar’s exit, said that he had been with the BJP since the time of the Jana Sangha. He was made MLA, Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Minister. He has the responsibility to match his steps with PM Modi who is in the process of nation building.
He said, Shettar has betrayed the party and this cannot be forgiven. He was offered a Union ministerial post, but Shettar is joining the Congress. The people of Karnataka will not forgive him.
