Shettar’s exit will not make a difference to BJP’s electoral prospects, says CM Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Monday 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.
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”. His departure has paved the way for the emergence of new leadership in the region, the Chief Minister added.
His departure has paved the way for emergence of new leadership in the region, the Chief Minister said.
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.  Bommai also attacked Congress and said that a former Karnataka chief minister would be used and later thrown out by Congress. “Shettar has gone to the party that expelled Virendra Patil, Bangarappa, and Devaraj Urs. They first honour people and then insult them after the election. Jagdish Shettar will be used and will be thrown out. Till BS Yediyurappa is with us, the Lingayat community will be with us,” Bommai told the media