SENIOR BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Monday joined the Congress, dealing a blow to the ruling party ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections. Lashing out at the BJP for “humiliating” him and not giving him a chance for an “honourable exit”, the former State BJP President said, he was beginning a “new episode” in his life by joining the Congress. The decision to part ways with the BJP came after the 67-year-old six time MLA, a former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, ex-Speaker and a party President in the past, was denied ticket to contest from the Hubli-Dharwad (Central) segment, which he represented in the outgoing Lower House.

The Lingayat leader from north Karnataka region embraced the Congress in the presence of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala (Karnataka in-charge), KPCC President D K Shivakumar and Legislature Party leader and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The Congress was emboldened by Shettar’s move. “With this, the Lingayats will turn against the BJP and shift towards the Congress”, the party’s Campaign Committee Chairman M B Patil said. Last week, former Deputy Chief Minister and another Lingayat leader Laxman Savadi quit the BJP after being overlooked for the Athani seat and joined the Congress.

After joining the party, Shettar was given a ‘B-form’ by Shivakumar as a Congress candidate from Hubli-Dharwad (Central) Assembly segment for the upcoming polls. Shettar, who resigned as MLA on Sunday, was asked by the BJP top brass to make way for others as part of the party’s strategy to groom the next generation of leaders but he was firm on contesting. “I’m quitting the BJP and joining the Congress today,” Shettar said.