Before the assembly elections in Karnataka, the ruling BJP is getting frequent setbacks. The new blow has been given by former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar. He left the BJP and joined the Congress. Even before him, many MLAs, MLCs and former MLAs of BJP have left the party after being angry with the ticket cut. Jagadish Shettar has won the election of MLA for six consecutive times.
Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who has won the Hubli-Dharwad Central seat six times since 1994, has been considered the biggest setback for the BJP this election season. Because his resignation is considered to be the most high-profile resignation.
Annoyed at not getting the ticket, Shettar had already told the party leadership that he would contest the elections at any cost.
Why Jagdish Shettar ‘trump card’?
Jagadish Shettar is considered the second tallest leader of the Lingayat community after former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa. Shettar has not only been a big leader of the BJP, but he is also a big and prominent leader of the Lingayat community. The Lingayat community has about 17 per cent votes in the state. Holding the hand of Shettar just before the elections has given a fillip to the Congress’s campaign to woo the Lingayats. This community has been dominant among the forward castes of the state. So far eight chief ministers of the state have been from this community.
How much loss to BJP due to Shettar’s departure?
Apart from Karnataka, the neighboring states of Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh also have a sizeable population of Lingayats. Shetty had already said that if he leaves BJP then BJP may have to suffer loss in about 25 to 30 assembly seats in the state. The Lingayat community is already fuming with the BJP after Yeddyurappa was repeatedly removed from the chief minister’s post.
Who is Jagdish Shettar?
Shettar has also been the Chief Minister of the state from 2012 to 2013. In 2018, he got 75,794 votes. Every time he has been winning with a margin of more than 25 thousand votes. Born in 1955, Shettar has also played an active role in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He has also been the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly and a minister in several governments. He has also been the President of Karnataka BJP in 2005. In 2008, he has also been elected unopposed speaker of the assembly.
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