Karnataka elections: “Pained at Shettar’s resignation,” says CM Bommai

After former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar resigned as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said Shettar’s move has pained him. The resignation of former CM and senior BJP leader Jagadish Shettar has pained and disturbed him, said the CM. Speaking to reporters here, Bommai said Shetter has been a senior and important leader of this region. The party had taken several decisions on several occasions. Bommai said Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Jagadish Shettar personally on Saturday. He said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is trying to bring changes in this static politics. Former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa announced his retirement from electoral politics. The BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised a big position at the central level to Shettar. 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.” Bommai said former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is a role model as he tendered his resignation even while he was in the chief minister’s post. “He (Yediyurappa ) taught them ideal to everyone. The BJP is trying to take every community along with it,” Bommao said. Bommai said BJP has given the maximum number of ministerships to the Lingayat community. He said the opportunity must be given from one generation to another due to which Shettar had been denied the ticket. “I am not going to answer all the questions raised by Shettar. It is an attempt to make a new development. Shettar’s resignation from the party will impact the BJP but damage control exercise will be made to minimize the impact,” Bommai added. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar tendered his resignation as an MLA to Karnataka Assembly Speaker, Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, at Sirsi on Sunday. Shettar, who resigned as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP