Jagadish Shettar
'No question of staying away from elections': Ex-Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar rebels against BJP
Bengaluru/IBNS: The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing a major rebellion as its MLA and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar announced that he is upset after the party asked him to make way for others in the upcoming state assembly elections.
Shettar, the MLA from Hubballi, has won six elections in the past.
He won by over 21,000 votes in the last assembly election in 2018, defeating his Congress rival Mahesh Nalwad.
After the party indicated he won't be given a ticket this time, the senior politician told reporters: "Last six elections I got elected with a margin of more than 21,000 votes. What are my minus points?"
"I am very disappointed. I have already started campaigning in my constituency, and I will intensify it. There is no question of staying away from election," said a visibly upset Shettar.
The BJP is yet to release its Karnataka candidates' list. The party's election committee including Prime Minister Narendra Modi met in Delhi over the weekend to finalise the names.
Former Deputy Chief Minister KS Eshwarappa, who was also asked to make room for others in this election, has agreed not to contest.
In a letter to BJP chief JP Nadda, Eshwarappa earlier in the day, said he is retiring from electoral politics.
However, Shettar, citing "no blot" in his political career, said he has asked the party leadership to let him contest this time also.
"I ask only one question - I won six times, have no blot in my career and have no allegations against me. So why am I being excluded? I want to tell the party to allow me to contest, otherwise it won't be good for the party," said the former Chief Minister.
"I have pledged my loyalty to the BJP. Even the (party's) recent survey (on election) proved that I have an edge. But I am disappointed after getting the call from the party leadership," Shettar added.
The BJP intends to bring in new, younger faces before state elections, a move that was seen in Gujarat last year before the assembly election.
Former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, former deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel and former state party president RC Faldu, among others, had written letters agreeing to the request by the BJP leadership to make way for others.
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