Karnataka Assembly polls: Shettar shuns BJP, embraces Cong

In a major jolt to the ruling BJP in poll-bound Karnataka, its senior leader and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Monday joined the Congress.

The former state BJP president said he was beginning a "new episode" in his life by joining the Congress and took the opportunity to slam the BJP ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections by accusing it of "humiliating" him and not giving him a chance for an "honourable exit".

Political analysts say Shettar's sudden decision may dent BJP's prospects in a number of constituencies in the north Karnataka. Shettar, a veteran BJP leader whose family has been associated with the party since Jana Sangh days, is an influential Lingayat leader from its bastion- the Kittur Karnataka region.

The 67-year-old six time MLA, a former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, ex-Speaker and a party president in the past parted ways with the BJP after it denied him ticket to contest from the Hubli-Dharwad (Central) segment, which he represented in the outgoing Lower House. He will now contest the seat on a Congress ticket.

"I'm quitting the BJP and joining the Congress today. Many are surprised as to why a person who was a former CM, twice leader of opposition, and was party president has quit BJP and joined the Congress. There were also attempts to put pressure on me from various places, but no one understood the pain I was going through as a senior leader for the last couple of months," Shettar said.

However, putting up a bold face, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said Shettar's exit from the BJP would have no adverse impact on the party's prospects in the forthcoming Assembly elections, and he was surprised by his decision to join the Congress.

The Lingayat leader from north Karnataka region embraced the Congress in the presence of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala (Karnataka in-charge), KPCC President D K Shivakumar and Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The Congress was emboldened by Shettar's move. "With this, the Lingayats will turn against the BJP and shift towards the Congress", the party's Campaign Committee Chairman M B Patil said.

Last week, former Deputy Chief Minister and another Lingayat leader Laxman Savadi quit the BJP after being overlooked for the Athani seat and joined the Congress.

Addressing mediapersons after joining the party, Shettar said he was one among those who built and nurtured the BJP in Karnataka along with B S Yediyurappa and late H N Ananth Kumar, especially in the north Karnataka region. As a senior leader he naturally expected to be given a ticket, but when denied he was "shocked and pained".

"I was not treated the way a senior leader should be treated," he rued, feeling

"humiliated" by the BJP which denied him a chance to contest. But, Bommai dismissed Shettar's charge that he was not given respect in the BJP and there was a conspiracy behind the move to drop him. Shettar was treated with a lot of respect and the party had given him positions. "In his growth in the last 25 years, the BJP played a main role", the Chief Minister said.

His departure has paved the way for emergence of new leadership in the region, the CM said, asserting, "There is not going to be any difference (to BJP's electoral prospects)" and the party will return to power with a clear majority.