B C Patil condemns Shettar joining Congress

HAVERI: Agriculture Minister B C Patil has hit out at Jagadish Shettar for switching sides. “He joined Congress although the BJP made him chief minister, minister, state party president. He joined the Congress because they may have promised him the position of Chief Minister or Prime Minister. Congress is on the decline in the country”, he said, condemning Shettar’s move.

He added, “Congress leaders are offering tickets and inviting MLA aspirants, just like conductors in bus stands. The decision taken by Laxman Savadi and Jagadish Shettar was really condemnable”. “The BJP’s top brass offered him the position of Union minister, but he refused”, Patil noted.

Talking about Laxman Savadi’s decision, said, “The party had given opportunity to become the deputy chief minister and member of the Legislative Council. About 17 MLAs joined the BJP, including Mahesh Kumatalli, and Savadi got rewarded for it. He was expected to remain in the party having understood all these issues. Karnataka election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to him”.