Shettar: Blow for BJP as Karnataka ex-CM Shettar decides to leave party – Times of India
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HUBBALLI/ BENGALURU: Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar said Saturday he will resign from the primary membership of BJP and as an MLA on Sunday, ahead of the May 10 state assembly polls.
The decision followed discussions with Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan that failed to mollify the senior legislator who’s upset over being denied a ticket to contest from the Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency that he had won six times on the trot.
“I have been humiliated to the core and never expected such a situation in my political career…I have had the opportunity to serve the party in various capacities for the past 40 years, and I am grateful for it,” said the 67-year-old Shettar.
When asked whether he would join Congress or run as an independent candidate, he declined to comment and refrained from blaming anyone in the party.
“I have a clean record and have not faced any corruption charges or been involved in any sex scandal. So, I wanted to know why the party was denying me a ticket, but they had no answer.”
During his talks with Pradhan, Shettar said the BJP leadership had offered him higher positions and they were ready to give a ticket to a family member. “But I rejected all these offers,” he said.
After a meeting later with his supporters, the former CM said denying him a ticket would have a bearing on at least 20 to 25 seats.
The BJP central leadership had earlier in the day sent Pradhan, the party’s Karnataka polls in-charge, to pacify the former CM. Pradhan, along with CM Basavaraj Bommai and Union minister Pralhad Joshi, arrived in Hubballi and held marathon talks.
His close aides said Shettar has kept two options open: one, to contest as an independent if the party denies him a ticket, and second, to contest on a Congress ticket, but there is no official confirmation on the second option.
According to sources, Pradhan and his team told Shettar that the party is not ready to offer him a ticket but may consider him for bigger posts, including governor, but Shettar firmly rejected the offer.
Watch Karnataka Elections 2023: Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar to resign from BJP
The decision followed discussions with Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan that failed to mollify the senior legislator who’s upset over being denied a ticket to contest from the Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency that he had won six times on the trot.
“I have been humiliated to the core and never expected such a situation in my political career…I have had the opportunity to serve the party in various capacities for the past 40 years, and I am grateful for it,” said the 67-year-old Shettar.
When asked whether he would join Congress or run as an independent candidate, he declined to comment and refrained from blaming anyone in the party.
“I have a clean record and have not faced any corruption charges or been involved in any sex scandal. So, I wanted to know why the party was denying me a ticket, but they had no answer.”
During his talks with Pradhan, Shettar said the BJP leadership had offered him higher positions and they were ready to give a ticket to a family member. “But I rejected all these offers,” he said.
After a meeting later with his supporters, the former CM said denying him a ticket would have a bearing on at least 20 to 25 seats.
The BJP central leadership had earlier in the day sent Pradhan, the party’s Karnataka polls in-charge, to pacify the former CM. Pradhan, along with CM Basavaraj Bommai and Union minister Pralhad Joshi, arrived in Hubballi and held marathon talks.
His close aides said Shettar has kept two options open: one, to contest as an independent if the party denies him a ticket, and second, to contest on a Congress ticket, but there is no official confirmation on the second option.
According to sources, Pradhan and his team told Shettar that the party is not ready to offer him a ticket but may consider him for bigger posts, including governor, but Shettar firmly rejected the offer.
Watch Karnataka Elections 2023: Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar to resign from BJP
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