Prominent Leaders Skip Welcome for Jagadish Shettar’s BJP Homecoming

Hubballi: Former CM Jagadish Shettar has rejoined the BJP, but the void created around nine to ten months ago seems yet to be filled. While Shettar received a grand welcome from supporters, well-wishers, and party workers, including a bike rally from Srinivas Garden to his home office in Badami Nagar, several prominent leaders were notably absent from the welcome event at the party office in Deshpande Nagar on Sunday evening.

MP and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, along with MLAs Arvind Bellad and MR Patil, were among the notable absentees. Some BJP leaders at the party office suggested that these elected representatives might have had prior commitments. Speculation is rife about dissatisfaction within the city BJP unit regarding Shettar’s return to the party.

When asked about the absence of several notables at Srinivas Garden, Shettar mentioned that they were all waiting for him at the party office. However, upon his arrival, only corporators, BJP city district unit office bearers, and MLA Mahesh Tenginkai were present. The visit to the party office lasted just 10 minutes and was limited to the exchange of pleasantries. BJP city district president Tippanna Majjagi welcomed Shettar, with other attendees including BJP HDMC members and senior leaders Lingaraj Patil, Veeresh Sangalad, Mahendra Koutal, and others.

To indicate that the gap created between Shettar and other prominents in the local BJP was visible and the cutouts, banners erected to welcome Jagadish Shettar lacked the photographs of prominent leaders of the Hubballi-Dharwad. Only Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shettar’s photo along with party workers and supporters of Shettar were visible in those banners.