Jagadish Shettar likely to join Congress in Rahul Gandhi’s presence at Kolar rally

BENGALURU, HUBBALLI: Former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar has submitted his resignation to post of MLA to Assembly Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri in Sirsi and is likely to join the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi later in the day.

Jagadish Shettar was an aspirant for the BJP ticket from Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency, but he was denied a ticket. He was upset over this and rebelled against the BJP. He even went to Delhi and held discussions with BJP national president J P Nadda.

The sources said that Jagadsih Shettar is likely to join Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi.

On Saturday night, Shettar met Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Prahlad Joshi and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at his house in Hubballi. After the talks failed, he went to Sirsi on Sunday morning and submitted his resignation letter to Assembly Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri at the latter’s residence. Shettar also said that he will resign from the primary membership of the BJP on Sunday itself.

Sources said the Congress has prepared to welcome Jagadish Shettar and two helicopters have been arranged from Hubballi to bring Shettar to Bengaluru. A helicopter has been booked in the name of KPCC president D K Shivakumar’s close aide UB Shetty and Shettar will leave for Bengaluru on Sunday afternoon. Later, he will join the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi, who is scheduled to address a rally in Kolar. Some former MLAs and heads of boards and corporations are also likely to join the Congress along with Shettar.