No injustice done to Shettar by BJP: Yediyurappa

Bengaluru: A visibly upset Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Sunday criticized his former party colleague and former Chief Minister Jagadeesh Shettar over his decision to quit BJP to join the Congress party and stated that “Voters would not forgive Shettar over his decision to quit BJP.”

It may be recalled here that BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, denied BJP ticket, resigned as MLC and joined the Congress party, a couple of days back.

Now, a disgruntled Shettar quit BJP on Sunday after his wish to contest the Hubballi Central Assembly seat was denied by BJP and a miffed Shettar tendered his resignation to Speaker of the Assembly Visveshwar Hegde Kageri in Sirsi town.

Taking a serious exception to the decision of Shettar, at a press conference in Bengaluru, Yediyurappa asked Shettar “What injustice had BJP done to you?” and questioned “What made you join the Congress party?”

Yediyurappa stated he along with late Union minister Ananthkumar stood by Jagadeesh Shettar, then a youth leader and made him the Leader of Opposition against senior B.S. Shivappa, later on a Minister and also elevated him to the post of Chief Minister.

The Union Minister and Karnataka incharge of the party affairs Dharmendra Pradhan spoke to Jagadeesh Shettar and assured him to be accommodated in Rajya Sabha and also make him a Minister in the Union ministry. Besides, Shettar’s family was assured of a BJP ticket to contest the ensuing Assembly polls, Yediyurappa said.

Stating the stance of Shettar was “unacceptable,” the former Chief Minister said “I am 80 and strong enough to strive hard for the party to come to power in the State and tour the State to expose Jagadeesh Shettar and former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi who quit BJP to join Congress party.”

To a query that politically dominant Veerashaiva community has been sidelined in BJP, Yediyurappa, belongs to Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, stated that “no injustice” has been done to the community in BJP and said he appealed to the Veerashaiva community that BP stood by them.

He also made it clear that “I resigned as CM on my own and announcement of political retirement was also my own decision"  and accused the Congress party of ‘ploy’ in the name of caste.