Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar officially returned to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today in a ceremony held at the party headquarters in Delhi. He had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the decision earlier. The influential Lingayat leader made his comeback in the presence of former CM B S Yediyurappa and state BJP President B Y Vijayendra. Union Cabinet Minister Bhupender Yadav, and Minister of State Rajeev Chandrashekhar were also present at the event.
After joining the party he said, “The party gave me a lot of responsibilities in the past. Because of some issues, I went to the Congress party. In the last 8-9 months, there were a lot of discussions in the BJP. Karnataka BJP leaders and workers asked me to come back to the BJP. Yediyurappa ji and Vijayendra ji also wanted me to come back to the BJP.”
Shettar, known as a staunch Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) follower, expressed his belief in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, “I am rejoining with the belief Narendra Modiji has to become PM again.” He cited discussions within the BJP over the past 8-9 months and the encouragement from Karnataka BJP leaders and workers as pivotal factors in his decision to return.
Addressing the circumstances of his departure from the BJP in April 2023, Shettar acknowledged being humiliated by senior leaders, leading to his initial departure for the Congress party. He highlighted the BJP’s promises of Rajya Sabha membership and a potential Union Minister position as factors that influenced his return.
Jagadish Shettar, representing the significant Lingayat community comprising 17% of the population, is seen as a key player in electoral dynamics. His return to the BJP drew comments from Congress leader DK Shivakumar, who accused the BJP of desperation and claimed they lacked candidates for the upcoming general elections.
Former CM Yediyurappa, acknowledging Shettar’s previous departure, stated that the BJP had promised support but Shettar chose to contest elections from Hubli-Dharwad Central with the Congress, a move resulting in a loss to Mahesh Tenginakai by 34,000 votes.
