Former Karanataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar rejoins BJP

Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar, who had previously joined the Congress ahead of the 2023 legislative elections, returned to the BJP on Thursday. Anil Baluni, the National chief spokesperson of the BJP, expressed joy at Shettar’s return, stating, “Today is a day of great happiness for us as Jagadish Shettar is making a return to BJP. We all welcome him.”

Shettar officially rejoined the BJP in the national capital, in the presence of former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Union Minister Bhupender Singh Yadav, Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa, and Union Minister of State Rajeev Chandrasekhar. After rejoining the BJP, Shettar mentioned, “The party gave me a lot of responsibilities in the past. Due to some issues, I went to the Congress party. In the last eight to nine months, there were a lot of discussions, also BJP workers asked me to come back to the BJP.”

“Yediyurappa ji and Vijayendra ji also wanted me to come back to the BJP. I am rejoining the party with the belief that Narendra Modi ji has to become the PM again,” he added. Earlier in the day, Shettar had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the BJP headquarters in Delhi.

Rumors about Shettar’s return to the BJP had been circulating for a few days. Responding to these speculations, Congress leaders in Karnataka suggested that the BJP’s leadership crisis in the state motivated the party to seek Shettar’s return.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, unaware of Shettar’s move, stated, “I don’t know, did Shettar say it?… I didn’t know this development. Once, he said to me that he was disrespected and he will not join BJP again.”

Shettar had left the BJP and joined Congress in April 2023, prior to the Karnataka assembly elections. His induction into Congress took place in the presence of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka state Congress president DK Shivakumar, and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Siddaramaiah.

During his entry into Congress, Kharge remarked, “Though he was in RSS and Jana Sangha, he’s a non-controversial person. We have worked together.” However, Shettar’s stint with Congress was short-lived, and he has now returned to the BJP.

Former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had previously mentioned that if Shettar chose to come back to the BJP, the party would welcome him. Shettar, a six-time MLA, had faced controversy and had resigned from the BJP, citing a conspiracy against him after being denied a ticket.