Bengaluru (Karnataka) : Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Monday said that the way former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar was treated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should not be meted out to anyone.
A day after quitting the BJP, former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Monday joined Congress ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections. Speaking on the occasion, Siddaramaiah said, “The way he (Jagadish Shettar) was treated in BJP, this should not happen to anyone in any party. He is hurt now. BJP has disrespected its community and supporters. After Jagadish Shettar has joined us, we will win more than 150 seats. His joining will give a boost to the party.”
“I welcome former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar to our party. He is known as a decent politician in Karnataka. Though he is from RSS, he is a secular person. I worked with him as the opposition leader and he was the opposition leader when I was Chief Minister. He was an honest party worker in BJP and always stood with the party, not for personal gain,” he added.
Shettar arrived at the Congress office in Bengaluru this morning. His induction to the party took place in the presence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka state Congress president DK Shivakumar and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Siddaramaiah.
After joining Congress, Shettar said, “Yesterday I left BJP and today I joined the Congress party. Many are surprised as an opposition leader, former CM and party president is joining Congress. BJP has given me every position and being a party worker I always worked for the party’s growth.”
“I thought being a senior leader, I will get the ticket, but when I came to know that I am not getting it, I was shocked. No one spoke to me nor tried to convince me, not even gave assurance about what position will I get,” he stated.
Shettar further said, “I was contacted by DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, Surjewala and MB Patil. When they invited me I came without any other option. I am joining Congress wholeheartedly.”
Senior BJP leader Amar Singh Patil also joined Congress along with Shettar.
Meanwhile, former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said if Shettar comes back to BJP, the party would welcome him.
The Karnataka assembly elections will be held in a single phase on May 10, with the counting of votes scheduled on May 13.
