‘Workers have no value in Congress … a lot of dissatisfaction as kin of ministers are in the fray’

FORMER KARNATAKA Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar quit the BJP and joined the Congress in April 2023, just months before the polls, sending shockwaves across the party he had been associated with for decades. Though he lost from his home turf Hublidharwad, he was made an MLC. He returned to the BJP in January and is now its candidate from the Belgaum Lok Sabha seat earlier represented by his relative and former Union Minister Suresh Angadi. The Lingayat leader talks about the campaign, his electoral prospects, and his community’s influence. Excerpts:

Would you have been happier if the party fielded you closer to home from Dharwad?

I do not differentiate as I have a lot of acquaintances ind harw ad, Haveri, and Belgaum. People will support me if I contest from any of the three constituencies.

What is your assessment of the ground situation?

I have worked hard to develop Belagavi city and am acquainted with the party organisation here. Moreover, Angadi is a close relative. I was the Leader of the Opposition when he was the district president and we built the party in every taluk. I am aware of the problems of the city and the district and have a close relationship with the people.

But you have been labelled an “outsider”...

It is not a debatable issue at all. Why did the Congress not talk about it when (Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah contested from Badami in Bagalkot district when he is a native of Mysuru or when (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi contested from Wayanad in Kerala instead of am et hi( the family’ s previous stronghold) in UP?

Even (ex-congress president) Sonia Gandhi contested the Lok Saha polls from Bellary (in 1999). In the current polls, minister Shivananda Patil’s daughter Samyukta is in the fray from Bagalkot even though she is from Bijapur. I do not understand why Congress leaders are raising this issue.

In last year’s Assembly polls, you were with the Congress. Now, you are with the BJP. How was the transition?

I left the BJP due to some incidents but was invited back by national leaders andre joined within a short time. I, along with (former CM) BS Yediyurappa and( ex union minister) Ana nth kumar, was involved in building the BJP from scratch in the state. My family has been with the BJP since its Jana Sangh days. It is our “maatr paksha (mother party)”.

In the Assembly polls, the Congress benefited from Lingayat leaders like you quitting the BJP. Has the situation changed now?

A large number of Lingayats will back the BJP.

What are your poll promises?

Belagavi is an important city, with the third busiest airport in Karnataka. A new terminal will come up to boost connectivity. I also have plans to bring bigger industries.the availability of human resources makes Belagavi a good place for it companies. ia ls ow ant to complete all railway and infrastructure projects at the earliest.

Do you think unemployment and inflation are poll issues?

Unemployment is a universal issue and was there during the Congress regime too. (PM Modi) has done a lot for the generation of employment and many young people are getting jobs in the government and the private sector.

Belgaum, Chikkodi and Bagalkot are among the seats with state ministers’ children in the fray...

Workers have no value in the Congress. There is a lot of internal dissatisfaction among the Congress’ s cadre as the kin of minister sand important political leaders are in the fray. Congress MLAS who say there is no scope for workers feel that the criteria for selecting candidates are having powerful relatives and money. Party workers and people are disappointed with the Congress.