From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 25: Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC president D K Shivakumar on Thursday claimed that senior party leader Jagadish Shettar, the former BJP chief minister who quit and joined the Congress party ahead of assembly polls for his neglect and insult, had asserted till Wednesday (yesterday) that he will remain and Congress and never go back to BJP.

Speaking to media persons near the KPCC office in Bengaluru, he said: “I don’t know why he changed his mind overnight and went back to BJP. I can’t say anything on what kind of pressures he faced to return to BJP. It is left to his conscience.’’

Shivakumar claimed that “Shettar had told me that he is being pressurized by BJP leaders and party workers in his constituency to rejoin BJP. Congress had given me rebirth after being rejected and insulted by BJP. I will not go back to BJP.’’

“Based on Shettar’s conversation with me, I had told media persons in Mysuru on Wednesday that he will remain in the party,’’ Shivakumar said and confessed that he came to know about his ‘Ghar Wapsi’ from the media that Shettar has rejoined BJP in the party office in Delhi.

The KPCC Chief said the Congress party accorded all respect and dignity due to Jagadish Shettar’s stature as he was a former chief minister and opposition leader ‘’We offered him MLC seat even when he was defeated in the assembly polls because we wanted his advice and guidance.’’

He pointed out that even during the recent Rama consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, Shettar had made several statements and spoken to media criticizing the BJP for politicizing a religious event and on several other issues, he was critical of BJP.

“I now understand from the media that he (Shettar) had telephoned the Council chairman Basavaraj Horatti that he will sending his resignation letter by fax,’’ he said mentioning that “I don’t know the kind of pressures exerted on Shettar and from whom or if he has been forcibly made to return to BJP.’’

To a question on Shettar’s reported statement that he has decided to rejoin BJP in national interest, Shivakumar shot back: “Did he not know the national interest during the assembly elections? When he was defeated in the assembly polls, the Congress party made him an MLC. Did he not know or remember national interest so far?’’ he asked.

Replying to another question whether Shettar was offered any kind of inducements, the KPCC chief said: “I can’t speak on that. It is for him to clarify. All I can say that we treated him with dignity and respect. I am yet to receive his resignation letter to the party.’’

Asked whether after Shettar’s episode, if the leaders of Sangh Parivar were ‘untrustworthy’, he said: “Why bring in Sangh Parivar in everything? They are doing their work and we politicians are doing our work. How can I link Shettar’s rejoining BJP to Sangh Parivar? If he was a genuine Sangh Parivar leader, would he have quit BJP and joined Congress? Therefore, I don’t want to connect Shettar’s rejoining BJP to Sangh Parivar as he is a politician.’’

Savadi and others will not go back

In answer to another pointed question as to whether another BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi, who had quit BJP and joined Congress along with Shettar, will also go back, Shivakumar said: “Shettar’s rejoining BJP is a different issue, which I don’t know. Just because one person has gone back to BJP, you cannot say all other will go back.’’

“Shettar lost in assembly polls by 35,000 votes. We treated him with respect and made him an MLC. It is left to his conscience to explain why he changed his stand. People will decide,’’ he added.

Incidentally, Savadi called on Shivakumar at his residence and held discussions with him.