Karnataka: Deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar meets Savadi amidst turmoil over Jagadish Shettar’s return to BJP

Reeling from the blow of former chief minister Jagadish Shettar’s abrupt return to the BJP, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar rushed to meet with another BJP defector MLA Laxman Savadi on Thursday, in hopes of keeping the saffron party from poaching him. Shivakumar, who is also the state president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), expressed confidence that none of the leaders would quit the Congress party and Shettar quitting the party was a different issue.

Savadi has also clarified that he would not be joining the BJP and intends to continue with the Congress party. “Shettar made it clear that his resignation was personal, and he is doing politics according to his wishes,” he said.

Shettar resigned as MLC as well as a member of the Congress party on Thursday, returning to the BJP under the Yediyurappa-Vijayendra leadership. There is speculation that he may get a Lok Sabha ticket from the BJP and may also be offered a Cabinet post. The rebound is a blow for the Congress with the Lok Sabha polls mere months away.


Shettar, along with Savadi, had joined the Congress less than a year ago during the state assembly election campaign when the BJP had denied them MLA tickets. While Shettar had lost the Hubli-Dharwad seat on the Congress’ ticket, Savadi had won from Athani. The two Lingayat leaders from North Karnataka had provided the Congress a much-needed boost within the community during the polls.