Ex-CM Jagadish Shettar quits as MLA, jolt to BJP in poll-bound Karnataka

Bengaluru, April 16:
Disgruntled by being denied a ticket to contest the May 10 Karnataka assembly polls, former chief minister  Jagadish Shettar on Sunday resigned as MLA and attacked the BJP, saying that those who built the party were being thrown out of the party. own house’.
Shortly after the 67-year-old six-time MLA announced his resignation from the party, Karnataka BJP stalwart B.S. Yeddyurappa, He slammed him for leaving the nadda-led BJP and said people will not forgive. For his move.
Shettar, an influential Lingayat leader from North Karnataka and MLA from Hubli-Dharwad Central, said some of his vested interests had conspired to keep him from fielding this time.
“Today, those who came from the BJP are thrown out of the party. Today I am going out of my house. I was chased out of my own home. This has hurt me deeply. In this background, I have resigned from the post of legislator,” Shettar told reporters.

He said the central leadership of the party did not give any reason for not accommodating him.
“Is age a factor? No. Were there any health problems? I am fine. Did I run a club or engage in illegal activities or was I a rowdy sheeter? Nothing. There is no CD (sex corruption),” the senior leader said.
Recalling his contribution to the party, Shettar said that he worked very sincerely for the last 30 years to build the party and BJP also gave him position and respect. “There is a party presence in rural areas because of my work. Today the party has grown stronger under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Asked about Yeddyurappa’s claim that Shetter was given power and position by the party, but he left the team. He sought to know why he broke away from the BJP (after more than a decade) and formed the Karnataka Janata Party. (Later Yeddyurappa returned to BJP)
Yeddyurappa was also given a good position. Why did he quit BJP? Shetter asked.
Asked if he had decided to join the Congress, he said, “I haven’t contacted or spoken to anyone personally yet.”
He also said that he has not yet taken the decision to join any party.
“What injustice have we done to Shetter?” Yeddyurappa asked, referring to Shettar’s stints as the party’s state president, assembly opposition leader and chief minister. He said the people of that area would not forgive him.
Speaking to the media, he said that the central leadership of the party has recommended that Shettar be given a ticket in the name of a family member and has proposed to make him a member of the Rajya Sabha and a Union Minister.
Yeddyurappa said the party did not ask him to retire from politics.
“Why are you going to Congress? Did we say that we do not give you authority?” Former Chief Minister Yeddyurappa has questioned. “What injustice have we done to him? He has already decided to go to Congress. Let him go”.
He said no force can stop the BJP from coming back to power in Karnataka. We will come back to power with absolute majority. (PTI)