Jagadish Shettar's resignation pained me, says Karnataka CM

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said veteran politician Jagadish Shettar's resignation from the BJP "pained and disturbed him". The former CM and six-time MLA from the Hubballi-Dharwad central constituency quit the party after not getting a ticket for the upcoming elections.

CM Bommai told the media that Shetter has been a senior and important leader of this region. He added that the party had taken several decisions on several occasions and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Jagadish Shettar personally on Saturday.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to bring changes in this static politics. Former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa announced his retirement from electoral politics. The BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised a big position at the central level to Shettar. The name of Shettar was on the list of the district-level core committee but the denial of the ticket was the decision of the high command. The time has come to bring the changes," he further said, explaining why the party did not give Shettar a ticket.

Describing former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa as a role model, he said that Yediyurappa taught them ideals to everyone. "The BJP is trying to take every community along with it and has given the maximum number of ministerships to the Lingayat community. The opportunity must be given from one generation to another due to which Shettar had been denied the ticket."

"I am not going to answer all the questions raised by Shettar. It is an attempt to make a new development. Shettar's resignation from the party will impact the BJP but damage control exercises will be made to minimize the impact," said the CM.

Yediyurappa on Sunday said if Shettar comes back to BJP, the party would welcome him. "We made him (Jagadish Shettar) the chief minister of Karnataka and the BJP state president. The statements given by him have made us unhappy. People knew about Jagadish Shettar only because of the BJP. I want to ask Jagadish Shettar why he is joining Congress. If he comes back to BJP, we will welcome him."

He added that the people of Karnataka will not forgive Shettar. "Dharmendra Pradhan had offered Jagadish Shatter, a ministerial position in the cabinet. We had offered a ticket to Jagadish Shatter's family. But he did not respond."

Shettar said he has not yet decided if he will join Congress or fight independently.

The Karnataka Assembly election will take place on May 10 and votes will be counted on May 13.