BSY 99% sure that Shettar will get ticket

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa has expressed confidence over Jagadish Shettar getting a party ticket to contest the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls.

"99% Jagadish Shettar (former Karnataka CM) will be given an election ticket," BJP leader and former Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa told ANI.

Shettar on Tuesday revealed that the central leadership had asked him to make way for others. The sitting MLA from Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency expressed his displeasure over the leadership for asking him not to contest at the last minute.

"If they had told me two to three months ago, then it would have been respectable for me. When the nomination is just two days away (to begin), I am definitely hurt," Shettar, a former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said.

"I have told them that I will contest the election. Whatever you have said is not acceptable to me. So, please reconsider your decision and give me an opportunity to contest the election again," he further said.

The former CM noted that he got elected to the Assembly six times and every time had won the seat with a margin of 25,000 votes or more.

"I questioned them why I should not contest the election. What are my minus points? In the survey, which they have done in all the constituencies, according to the information I got, a positive response has come - almost 70 per cent positive response and public opinion is there (in my favour)," Shettar claimed.

Meanwhile, Shettar will be meeting Party President JP Nadda on Tuesday evening.

"I will reach Delhi today to meet the party's national president JP Nadda. I expect positive things will happen. In the coming days, the party High Command and state leaders will specify everything", Shettar said.

The BJP on Tuesday released the first list of 189 contestants for May 10 Karnataka polls.

It has denied ticket for several legislators including Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat and Minister of Fisheries S Angara. The high command also instructed senior leader KS Eshwarappa to make way for others.