Karnataka Elections 2023: Karnataka BJP leader and former minister KS Eshwarappa has written an open letter to former chief minister Jagadish Shettar after he quit the party and joined Congress, asking the latter to come back.
In his letter, KS Eshwarappa asked Shettar, "...Congress may have given you a ticket but you will not win on the ground of struggle. If Congress comes to power, they said, they will withdraw the Cow Slaughter Bill. Who will you support then..."
"DK Shivakumar & Siddaramaiah said that they will withdraw the ban on PFI if they come to power. So you support terrorism? Ask that... will your father's soul in heaven rest in peace with the addition of Congress? You have done so much for BJP. What would you say if your grandson asks why you joined Congress? You should apologize and come back to the party that saved religion and principles. You can come back soon..." Eshwarappa wrote.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai today said the exit of Jagadish Shettar from the BJP would have no adverse impact on the party's prospects in the forthcoming Assembly elections, and he was surprised by his decision to join the Congress.
Shettar, a six-time MLA and former Chief Minister, parted ways with the BJP after being denied ticket to contest from Hubli-Dharwad (Central), which he represented in the outgoing Assembly.
Bommai dismissed Shettar's charge that he was not given respect in the BJP and there was a conspiracy behind the move to drop him. Shettar was treated with a lot of respect and the party had given him positions.
"In his growth in the last 25 years, the BJP played a main role", the Chief Minister said.
His departure has paved the way for emergence of new leadership in the region, the Chief Minister said.
"There is not going to be any difference (to BJP's electoral prospects)," he said, expressing total confidence that the party will return to power with a clear majority.
Bommai charged the Congress with having a culture of "use and throw."
He said the Congress would honour leaders joining it till the elections; thereafter, within a few months they would face insult. He cited the instances of former Congress Chief Ministers Veerendra Patil, D Devaraj Urs and S Bangarappa, in this regard.
"Despite knowing this, I don't know why Shettar joined the Congress. I am surprised," the Chief Minister added.
ALSO READ | Another AAP leader in trouble, Gopal Italia arrested by Surat Police
ALSO READ | Karnataka Assembly elections 2023: Turncoats & fading line of ideologies
