BENGALURU: On the day former BJP chief minister Jagadish Shettar joined the Congress, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said he will be used by the Congress and later discarded.
Speaking to reporters, the CM said, “The Congress culture is of use-and-throw. All these days, they hurled allegations and suddenly, the same people who were targeted have become loved ones. If someone is on the Congress side, they are good, and if not, they are bad people. Till the elections, they will be honoured and after the election, they will be shamed, this is Congress culture”.
Citing examples, the CM said, “They took Veerendra Patil from the Janata Party, got him to tour the state and won 180 seats and, when he was unwell, he was removed as CM when he was at the airport. They used S Bangarappa, a backward classes leader, and then discarded him. They even humiliated a great leader like D Devaraj Urs when the Congress had split in the state. Despite knowing all this, I am surprised that Jagadish Shettar chose to join Congress”.
On the BJP’s prospects in Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly constituency, with Shettar’s exit, Basavaraj Bommai said, “The BJP has grown because of different communities and its grassroots-level workers. The party has the strength to face such situations and we will win all our constituencies and we will take steps to further strengthen the party. The developments have given opportunity for new leadership in that region and we will win with absolute majority”.
The CM pointed out, “There won’t be any effect as the party has the highest number of corporators and local leaders. I don’t know why Congress suddenly developed a love for Lingayats during the election. They subdued Lingayats for the last 50 years. Lingayat leaders were kept in their regions and were not allowed to grow in Bengaluru. We don’t have to learn lessons from them. The Lingayats are an awakened community and they know who have protected their interests. With B S Yediyurappa on our side, the Lingayat community will be with us”.
To a question on Rahul Gandhi’s 40 pc commission remarks on the BJP and exuding confidence of the Congress winning 150 seats, the CM said the Congress leader is unaware of ground realities. “I have sent them a list of all the scams that took place under the Congress government, but they haven’t replied so far”.
Asked about Yediyurappa saying that Shettar will be welcome back if he decides to, the CM said he doesn’t expect Shettar’s return to BJP. On Shettar’s allegation, the Chief Minister said, “Someone has to give a reason when he leaves the party. The BJP has given everything to Shettar in his political life over the last 25 years. There is no question of ignoring them”.