Shettar back to Hubballi from Delhi: Amid Dissent, Expresses Confidence of Getting Ticket

Hubballi: Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who flew to New Delhi to meet the party high command following dissatisfaction expressed by some Belagavi leaders over his candidature for the Belagavi Lok Sabha seat, returned to Hubballi on Tuesday night.

The former chief minister wasted no time in meeting the party leaders in Delhi to ensure that the party would nominate him to contest the Lok Sabha election from Belagavi. According to sources, Shettar expressed his desire and presented his case before them.

Speaking to reporters, looking visibly bleak, he expressed confidence in receiving the ticket to contest the Lok Sabha seat and remained positive. He expressed confidence that the party would make a decision and that the ticket would be announced within a day or two. Shettar mentioned that he met with senior leaders in Delhi and also communicated with Belagavi leaders, including MLAs, MLCs, and former MLAs and MLCs, in an attempt to garner support from all quarters.

He stated that the final round of talks with senior leaders in the party had taken place, and he was confident of receiving the ticket. He added that the Central Election Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would make the final decision.

Shettar declined to comment on his rivals’ attempts to tarnish his chances of receiving the ticket, stating that everything would be revealed once the ticket was announced. He mentioned that he had spoken to all the Belagavi leaders, including Prabhakar Kore, Mahantesh Kavatagimath, Abhay Patil, Iranna Kadadi, and other leaders, and they all expressed their commitment to abide by the party’s decision.

When asked about his confidence in receiving the ticket despite rumors suggesting otherwise, Shettar responded that nothing could be assumed until the Central Election Committee made a formal announcement.

Regarding rumors circulating about the party possibly changing the candidate for the Haveri constituency, either him or KE Kantesh might contest, Shettar stated that he had no information about this.

Shettar, according to the sources had an interest to contest from Dharwad Lok Sabha seat, or Haveri-Gadag, but the party gave ticket to union minister Pralhad Joshi and former CM Basavaraj Bommai respectively.

Shettar was left with only option to contest from Belagavi seat, but some party leaders raised their voice against Shettar and demanded the party should not give ticket to an outsider. The former CM went to meet former CM BS Yediyurappa when the dissent voice was raised first and returned to Hubballi following assurance from him, but despite that the voice resistance did not fade, hence he flew to Delhi three days ago to ensure that he get the party ticket.