Hubli: As soon as he joined the Congress, the former Chief Minister… Jagadish Shettar Returned to his hometown and held several meetings with supporters. shettar Now preparing to face another election Hubli-Dharwad CentralFrom where he has been winning continuously since 1994, but on a BJP ticket. In an interview with TOI, Shettar called the upcoming fight a “choice of pride and self-respect”. Excerpts:
You rejected BJP’s last-minute offer and joined Congress?
On the day of releasing the first list, the BJP leadership told me over phone to make way for others and give a written statement that I will not contest. Is this the way to treat a person who has served the party for more than 30 years and has represented Hubli Dharwad Central for six consecutive terms? i’m not a kid [small child] to be treated like this. They should have informed me earlier. This hurt my self respect and made me feel humiliated. I humbly requested him to give me one last chance to contest the election, but he refused to listen. When I decided to quit, the BJP leadership offered me a higher position and a ticket to a family member. I refused because I was deeply hurt and humiliated.
You come from a strong RSS background. Are you not sacrificing your ideology for the sake of being an MLA?
Yes, I have an RSS background, but I am a secular person. I have never discriminated against or targeted any caste or religion through hate speech. I have treated everyone equally throughout my political career. I am not joining Congress for power. Had I been after power, I would not have refused a ministerial berth in Basavaraj Bommai’s cabinet. My ideology is to serve human and humanity.
Do you think your exit will hurt BJP’s prospects? Why?
Of course, my exit will impact BJP’s prospects not only in North Karnataka but in the entire state. Many Lingayat leaders are upset with the ill-treatment meted out to me and this will work against the BJP.
You have refrained from criticizing the central leadership of the BJP even after they denied you a ticket. Why?
It is not proper on my part to criticize the BJP leadership since I joined the Congress. BJP has helped me grow as a leader, so I still have respect for the party and its leaders, but there are some black sheep who are working for personal gains. However, in the coming days I may have to criticize the BJP.
Who do you think was responsible for denying you the ticket?
Some party functionaries saw me as a threat to their chief ministerial ambitions and deliberately created hurdles to ensure my exit. After Yeddyurappa and Savadi, I was targeted. I will reveal the names of those who cheated me when the time is right.
Hubli-Dharwad Central has been a BJP bastion with a strong RSS cadre. How sure are you about winning on Congress ticket?
I will win for a record seventh consecutive time with a huge margin. I am already getting overwhelming support from various communities. After all my election will be for self respect and self respect.
What is your message to your supporters, who are in a dilemma whether to stay with BJP or join Congress?
I have given a free hand to my supporters to take their own decision. If they have faith in me, they can shake hands with me. I will not force anyone to join me, as BJP is already doing.
You rejected BJP’s last-minute offer and joined Congress?
On the day of releasing the first list, the BJP leadership told me over phone to make way for others and give a written statement that I will not contest. Is this the way to treat a person who has served the party for more than 30 years and has represented Hubli Dharwad Central for six consecutive terms? i’m not a kid [small child] to be treated like this. They should have informed me earlier. This hurt my self respect and made me feel humiliated. I humbly requested him to give me one last chance to contest the election, but he refused to listen. When I decided to quit, the BJP leadership offered me a higher position and a ticket to a family member. I refused because I was deeply hurt and humiliated.
You come from a strong RSS background. Are you not sacrificing your ideology for the sake of being an MLA?
Yes, I have an RSS background, but I am a secular person. I have never discriminated against or targeted any caste or religion through hate speech. I have treated everyone equally throughout my political career. I am not joining Congress for power. Had I been after power, I would not have refused a ministerial berth in Basavaraj Bommai’s cabinet. My ideology is to serve human and humanity.
Do you think your exit will hurt BJP’s prospects? Why?
Of course, my exit will impact BJP’s prospects not only in North Karnataka but in the entire state. Many Lingayat leaders are upset with the ill-treatment meted out to me and this will work against the BJP.
You have refrained from criticizing the central leadership of the BJP even after they denied you a ticket. Why?
It is not proper on my part to criticize the BJP leadership since I joined the Congress. BJP has helped me grow as a leader, so I still have respect for the party and its leaders, but there are some black sheep who are working for personal gains. However, in the coming days I may have to criticize the BJP.
Who do you think was responsible for denying you the ticket?
Some party functionaries saw me as a threat to their chief ministerial ambitions and deliberately created hurdles to ensure my exit. After Yeddyurappa and Savadi, I was targeted. I will reveal the names of those who cheated me when the time is right.
Hubli-Dharwad Central has been a BJP bastion with a strong RSS cadre. How sure are you about winning on Congress ticket?
I will win for a record seventh consecutive time with a huge margin. I am already getting overwhelming support from various communities. After all my election will be for self respect and self respect.
What is your message to your supporters, who are in a dilemma whether to stay with BJP or join Congress?
I have given a free hand to my supporters to take their own decision. If they have faith in me, they can shake hands with me. I will not force anyone to join me, as BJP is already doing.