Responding to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi’s assertion that the NDA would not surpass 180 seats, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jagadish Shetter issued a challenge, daring the Congress to achieve 40 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In a fervent declaration during the filing of his nomination for the Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency, Jagadish Shetter said, “I challenge Congress to cross 40 seats. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is a part of the INDIA bloc, said that they won’t even secure 40 seats. The people have decided that we will cross 400 seats.”
Shettar expressed his confidence in achieving a resounding victory. He cited the enthusiastic reception from the public during his campaign as a source of optimism, not only for his success but also for the BJP’s prospects in the forthcoming elections.
On his nomination from the Belgavi parliamentary constituency, Shetter said, “When I entered the Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency last month, on that day more than 10,000 people gathered and welcomed me very heartfully.”
“I am visiting all areas and I’m going to people, requesting that they vote. All the leaders of the Bhartiya Janta Party–MLA, ex-MLA, office bearers, workers–everybody is supporting me and they are actively campaigning,” he stated.
He further said that today’s filing of the nomination is a big event. “I think, in the history of the Belgavi parliamentary constituency, it is a big gathering today. Thousands of people welcomed and participated in the rally. So I’m very confident that with a bigger margin, I’m going to win, the Bharatiya Janata Party is going to win and it is a support for Narendra Modi. He has to become Prime Minister for the third time,” he added.
Karnataka, which holds 28 Lok Sabha seats, is scheduled to vote in two phases on April 26 and May 7.
During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress and JD-S formed an alliance to contest against the BJP, resulting in a significant defeat for the coalition.
The BJP secured a historic 25 seats, while the Congress and JD-S managed to win only one seat each. The Lok Sabha Elections 2024 are scheduled to take place in seven phases, commencing on April 19, with the counting of votes set for June 4.