India: Ex-Karnataka CM Jagadish Shettar rejoins BJP months after crying foul over 'ill-treatment'

In a surprising turn of events, former Chief Minister from India's southwesternstate of Karnataka, Jagadish Shettar,rejoined the BJP just months after crying foul of "ill-treatment" by the party.

"I am rejoining with the belief Narendra Modiji has to become prime minister again," said Shettar on Thursday (Jan 25).

He was welcomed back into the BJP fold after being signed offby Home Minister Amit Shah. The event took place at BJP's Delhi headquarters in the presence of Karnataka unit chief BY Vijayendra and ex-Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.

Earlier, Shettar acknowledged that there were some "issues" which led to his departure from the BJP. However, he said, "In the last eight or nine months, there were a lot of discussions. BJP workers asked me to come back...Yediyurappaji and Vijayendraji also wanted me to come back... so I am rejoining."

Notably, the former minister left the BJP before the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election and joined the Congress after being denied a ticket by the BJP national leadership.Hefought on a Congress ticket but faced a substantial defeat from the Hubbali (Hubli)-Central Dharwad constituency, where he had served as a six-term MLA.

Congress reacts to Jagadish Shettar's defection

The Congress, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, issued a sharp rebuke on Shettar's resignation.

"He (Shettar) joined the Congress stating BJP disrespected him... we gave him a ticket for the Assembly election, made him MLC after he lost...so he wasn't disrespected in the Congress nor was injustice done," saidSiddaramaiah.

Siddaramaiah and state Congress President D K Shivakumar highlighted that the Congress treated Shettar with respect when he joined ahead of last year's Assembly polls, contrasting it with the BJP's denial of a ticket.

Shivakumar expressed surprise at Shettar's reversal, stating, "Congress had trusted the senior leader, but now you (media) are showing thattrust is being breached."

Watch | Cold wave in North India: Dense fog engulfs Delhi as it prepares for Republic Day

He questioned, "Did he (Shettar) not know about national interest when he was not given the ticket (by BJP)? Did he not know about Congress and national interest when Congress made him MLC for five years?"

"He (Shettar) has to say what allurements were given to him. I can only say that Congress treated him respectfully....all of us have conscience, he too will have conscience,"Shivakumar further said.

(With inputs from agencies)