Jagdish Shettar: An asset to Congress

Jagadish Shettar who was in BJP defected to Congress party when he was denied BJP ticket from Hubli. Although he was dubbed as a winning horse by the media, he lost to BJP 's candidate Mahesh Tenginkayi. Congress in its hurry to keep him happy now brought him to legeslative council. He fills in the vacancy created by resignation of Laxman Savadi.  Savadi also a former minister in BJP government, defected to Congress when he was refused a ticket from BJP, contested from Athani and lost to BJP candidate. Savadi is not lucky as Shettar in coming to Council. Shettar's selection is dubbed as a booster dose to Congress party. Shettar has profusely thanked all Congress leaders for having considered him for the Council membership. He expressed his gratitude  for giving this responsibility to Sonia, Rahul, Priyanka, Kharge, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar alike. As an MLC , he promised to strengthen Congress party from grassroot level and prepare it for next Lok Sabha elections.

Nobody has dreamt that Shettar would never desert BJP. He was very loyal and a polite politician of a different category. Although he pleaded vigorously for one more termas an MLA, he was deined a ticket ruthlessly. Hence he made a stunning decision to quit BJP. This helped Congress to harvest Lingayat votes in North Karnataka belt. He will be used again by Congress in the coming Lok Sabha elections. His quitting BJP and joining Congress is term as a reason for decimation of BJP. His election is looked as an indication that the Congress would stand by Lingayat community. Hither to it was described as an anti Lingayat party.

Shettar was an eighth time MLA and a prominent Lingayat leader. Congress is using him to woo Lingayat community and Shettar believes that Congress has treated him in a very honourable way unlike BJP. Shettar has made a scathing attack on BJP national secretary B L Santosh and union minister Prahalad Joshi of their sinister designs to leg him down. He also accused them of spear heading Brahmin lobby at the cost of Lingayat community. However, many feel that just an MLC post is not enough for his stature, and he shall be made a minister. But there are no vacancy in cabinet as of now and only after 30 months when guard is changed there may be a possibilty when DK Shivakumar becomes chief minister.

Congress strength increased:

Congress wants to have majority in Karnataka Legislative Council as soon as possible. Now with winning three seats its strength has gone up to 26. It will not get majority till the Lok Sabha elections. It has to wait patiently. This victory is first step towards achieving majority in the upper house. There are another three seats meant for nominations for celebrities of different fields. Two more by-elections are due in coming months from graduate and teachers constituencies. Even if Congress wins all the seats its tally will be 31. Still seven short of majority. Situation would impt next year when 19 seats fell vacant. Untill October 2024 BJP will keep on applying breaks to whatever reversals Congress wanted to do in respect of anti conversion law and apmc act.

( Dr Mysi Patil is the State Correspondent)