Former Chief Minister of Karnataka Jagadish Shettar , who has also served previously as Speaker, Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Karnataka president, and as a Minister in the State Cabinet, has now caught the attention of the nation for defying the party’s diktat to retire from active politics. Hailing from a family that has been associated with the Jan Sangh for a long time, Mr. Shettar delivered a shock to the BJP high command by rebelling against the saffron party. The senior Lingayat leader’s decision to quit the BJP and join the Congress party may impact the political equations in the Kittur Karnataka region. In an interview to The Hindu , Mr. Shettar delineated the reasons for his decision. Excerpts:
You have long been associated with the BJP. Why the shift to the Congress?
I have been working for strengthening the party in the State, particularly in the north Karnataka region, for the last 30 years. I have not only strengthened the party but also won the elections six times in a row with a considerable margin of about 25,000 votes. I wanted to contest the election again and had begun preparations. But at the last moment, the party’s Karnataka-in-charge called me over telephone to convey that I have been denied ticket. He told me to issue a press release as per the draft given by them saying that I am retiring from active politics. I asked them the reason for the party’s decision. I sought to know whether it was because of my age or any negative survey report, any scam or any corruption or criminal charges. But there was no answer. The party’s national president, J.P. Nadda, also did not give answers to my questions. I was hurt, my self-respect was hurt. They not only hurt my self-respect, but also showed disrespect to the people who elected me six times in a row. So I decided to quit. This fight is for my self-respect.
Do you mean to say you were ready to quit the party had they followed due process before asking you to quit?
Yes, I would have readily agreed if they had treated me with respect and conveyed to me the decision of the party in advance. They say party is first and individuals come next. But in the process of issuing tickets, one individual’s choice, that is, party’s national organising secretary B.L. Santosh’s [choice], came first and not that of the party. Mr. Santosh’s intention was to get party ticket to his ‘disciple’ Mahesh Tenginakai and he succeeded in getting it done, keeping the high command in the dark.
