Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who was denied a ticket to run in the Assembly elections on May 10, resigned as an MLA on Sunday, dealing a blow to the ruling BJP.

The opposition Congress quickly invited him to join the party.

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Ex-CM Jagadish Shettar resigns

Shettar made his decision after the BJP’s central leadership stated emphatically that he would not be accommodated this time.

In Sirsi, Uttara Kannada district, he submitted his resignation to Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri.

The last-ditch efforts of senior party leaders, including BJP’s election in-charge for Karnataka Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday to persuade the Hubli-Dharwad Central MLA to change his mind paid no fruits as he quit as a legislator today.

Shettar, a former State BJP President and a six-time MLA had on Saturday said he would resign as an MLA and also part ways with the saffron party after a three-decade-long association.

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Jagadish Shettar face off with the media after leaving the party

The 67-year-old reiterated that he was firm on contesting the elections.

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad said his party would welcome Shettar in case he wishes to join it.

Describing Shettar as an “honest CM”, Hariprasad said there was no allegation against him during his tenure at the helm.

BJP State Unit President Nalin Kumar Kateel said senior BJP leaders had made efforts to “keep him in the party”.

There was no “conspiracy” behind the party’s decision to not field him this time, Kateel said in response to a reporter’s question.