BJP heavy-weight Jagadish Shettar joins Congress

BJP heavy weight, Jagadish Shettar who resigned as MLA has joined the Congress.

He had resigned as a BJP MLA, but is yet to quit the party's membership. Speculation about him joining the Congress was fuelled after he resigned and then boarded a chopper with Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa. Shettar however maintained that he is discussing the issue with his well-wishers. "I am someone who built the BJP. It is hurtful that I am having to leave. I will take a call after factoring everything, he had said earlier.

Shettar had met with top Congress leaders last night before he joined the party on Monday. Congress general secretary, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Karnataka party chief, D K Shivakumar were present.

Senior leader, B S Yediyurappa is however doesn't seem pleased with the decision made by Shettar. He said that Shettar was offered a Rajya Sabha seat and a berth in the Union Cabinet. He however seems to be determined on joining the Congress. "This is not acceptable and the people will never forgive him, " Yediyurappa said.

Congress chief D K Shivakumar said that there will no demands from Shettar. He will have to agree with the principles and leadership. We want to keep the country united and only the Congress can do it.

Shettar has won six elections in the past. In the 2018 elections, he had won by over 21,000 votes defeating his Congress rival, Mahesh Nalwad.

There have been a spate of resignations after many leaders were denied tickets by their respective parties to contest the Karnataka Assembly elections.

Prior to this, former deputy chief minister and BJP MLC, Laxman Savadi had quit the party and joined the Congress.

There is trouble within the Congress as well. Senior leader and MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy has submitted his resignation after he realised that he may not be fielded from his strong seat of Pulakeshinagar in Bengaluru. He is likely to join the BJP, reports have said. For the BJP, Murthy will be a good catch as he is strong in his constituency and the BJP would be looking to better its tally in the city.

BJP sources say that the exits are painful, but it may not make much of an impact. The BJP will have to recalibrate its strategy a bit since both leaders who have quit are from the strong Lingayat community. While speculation is rife that Shettar may join the Congress, there is a good chance that he may look to contest as an independent.