New Delhi: BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who crossed over to the Congress before the polls, blamed his failure in polls on ‘money power and pressure tactics’, according to news agency ANI.
Shettar with a strong support base in his Lingayat community lost to the BJP's Mahesh Tenginakai by over 34,000 votes.
His quitting the BJP, Shettar reportedly said, helped the congress in 20 to 25 seats, despite his failure in Hubli-Dharwad Central assembly constituency.
The former BJP leader accused his rival of ‘distributing ₹ 500, 1,000’ to voters, adding that he never used ‘money power’ in the last six elections.
‘First time that the BJP candidate has distributed ₹ 500-1000 to voters,’Shettar was quoted as saying.
Jagadish Shettar claimed he had been saying for over a week that Congress would win 130 to 140 seats.
‘Very good response from the people. There is an undercurrent. People from all castes, everybody is working and voting for me. Congress and Jagadish Shettar will get elected with a huge margin’, Shettar previously said.
The results against the BJP in the state, according to him, will ‘definitely’ reflect on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls too.
The six-time MLA quit the BJP blaming ‘ill treatment’ after he was denied a ticket in the polls.