BENGALURU: Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwathnarayan has said that former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar joining the Congress,will be a setback for the grand old party.
“People are intelligent, they can understand the challenges. Jagadish Shettar was a six-time MLA and was even the CM of Karnataka. He was party president and leader of the opposition and had occupied all positions. If he left even after getting everything, what will people say? Congress will have a setback taking Jagadish Shettar”, said Ashwathnarayan
Ashwathnarayan also rejected the Congress claim that it will win over 150 seats. “No chance… they will not be able to reach their present number (79). They will not cross their existing number. The BJP will come back with a record margin,” claimed Ashwathnarayan.
Ashwathnarayan’s statement came in response to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement that the entry of Jagadish Shettar, a prominent Lingayat leader, will empower the party. “This will empower (the party), there is unity. This shows that everyone is happy with the atmosphere that is forming in Karnataka today and all leaders are connecting with us… This is not a question of Lingayats, they are connecting with us by looking at our programmes. We welcome them”, Kharge told reporters. (ANI)