Still have hope, will decide on next step if denied ticket, says Jagadish Shettar

HUBBALLI: Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who had set a Saturday deadline for the party top brass to decide on his candidature from Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency, has said that he still has hope that he will be given the party ticket.

Addressing a meeting of his supporters at his residence here on Saturday, Shettar said, “Even as of today, I have hope that I will get the ticket and that the party will respect the sentiments of the people from the constituency. There is still time till April 20 to file the nomination papers and if I do not get the ticket, I will take a decision on what is to be done after consulting you all. But I think such a situation will not arise”.

Shettar’s supporters earlier staged a protest.

“Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and Shankar Patil Munenakoppa had come some time ago and even party national president Nadda spoke to me”, he said. Shettar also recalled his contribution towards expanding the party’s footprint in the region and thanked his supporters.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said efforts are continuing to convince Shettar. “I have also spoken to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, national president J P Nadda and the state party president to retain him in the party. We are confident that we will retain him in the party.”

“We have held cordial discussions. Jagadish Shettar is one of the senior leaders of our party and his services will be utilised in the coming days too. Shettar has been representing the Hubli-Dharward Central constituency for the last 30 years and in the coming days too the party will need his services and I have told him that the party is having discussions on his future role. His contribution to the party is immense and he has stayed with the party even in difficult times and has held various positions. The party will take an appropriate decision regarding his role”, said Union Minister Pralhad Joshi who paid a surprise visit to Shettar’s house on Saturday.