PM Modi, Amit Shah decided to replace Shettar, Santhosh had no role: Pralhad Joshi

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Monday said the decision to replace former chief minister Jagadish Shettar with a younger face was taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Joshi's clarification comes in the wake of Shettar's repeated attacks on BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh, accusing him of plotting a conspiracy to deny him the ticket. Santhosh, he had said, wanted to give the ticket to his protege Mahesh Tenginkai.

Shettar, a six-term MLA from Hubballi-Dharwad Central, is contesting from the same constituency on a Congress ticket this time. Joshi, who represents the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency, told the media in Hubballi that the decision to replace Shettar was taken by the central leadership.