Former Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar Returns To BJP Fold After Short Stint With Congress

Former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who joined the Congress last year before Karnataka assembly election, has returned to the BJP fold on Thursday (25 January).

Shettar was the 15th chief minister of Karnataka from July 2012 to May 2013.

Shettar, who belongs to the politically influential Lingayat community, had ditched the BJP in April last year when he was denied a ticket and joined the Congress.

He contested from Hubli Dharwad central on a Congress ticket in 2023 Karnataka elections but lost by a big margin.

Shettar was at BJP Headquarters in Delhi on Thursday (25 January), and was accompanied by ex-CM and senior party leader B S Yediyurappa.

Earlier on Wednesday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the BJP is desperately trying to get back former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar into its fold ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking to reporters at the Bayalukuppe in Mysuru district, Shivakumar said, "Many BJP leaders are desperately trying for the return of Shettar who is with the Congress party now. This is a tell-tale sign of weakness in the party. They don’t have candidates for the upcoming general elections", India TV reported.