From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Hubballi, Apr 16: The resignation of former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar, who had also served as the BJP State President, as the ruling party's MLA has "deeply pained and disturbed" Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in Hubballi on Sunday.
Speaking to media persons, Bommai said Shettar had been a senior and important leader of this region. The party had taken several decisions on several occasions.
"I had contested against Shettar in the Hubballi constituency a few years ago," he said and claimed that he had remained a personal friend over several decades.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to bring changes in this static politics. Former deputy chief minister K S Eshwarappa announced his retirement from electoral politics. BJP National President J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised a big post at the Delhi level to Shettar," Bommai claimed.
The Chief Minister said: "On Saturday, I held talks with Shettar and informed him that the ticket would be given to anybody in his family suggested by him but he did not agree. Everything would have been fine if Shettar had continued in the party."
'BSY is a role model'
The Chief Minister said his predecessor B S Yediyurappa is the role model as he tendered his resignation even while he was in the chief minister's post.
"Yediyurappa taught ideals to everyone. The BJP is trying to take every community along with it. The development of Kittur Karnataka and Kalyana Karnataka was possible only by the BJP. Under the leadership of Yediyurappa, the frontline leadership is ready, and the second-line leadership comprising C C Patil, Murgesh Nirani, and V.Somanna is fully prepared," he said.
Bommai said: "It is the BJP that has given the maximum number of ministerships to the Lingayat community. Shettar's resignation, though a loss to the party, will not seriously damage the prospects."
Poll strategy
The Chief Minister said in the Congress Party, two people are in the race for the top post, and in the Janata Dal (Secular), it is the name of H.D. Kumaraswamy.
"We will work out our election strategy. The BJP will emerge victorious in the coming Assembly elections," he claimed.
High command's decision
Bommai said Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Jagadish Shettar personally on Saturday.
"The name of Shettar was on the list of the district-level core committee, but the denial of the ticket was the decision of the high command. The time has come to bring the changes," he said.
Damage control
Bommai said the opportunity must be given from one generation to another generation due to which Shettar had been denied the ticket.
"I am not going to answer all the questions raised by Shettar. It's an attempt to make new development. Shettar's resignation from the party will impact the BJP, but damage control exercise will be made to minimize the impact," he added.