In May 2023, Karnataka's former Chief Minister, Jagadish Shettar, made headlines by departing from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to align with the Congress. When questioned about retaining photographs of BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his office despite the shift, Shettar responded assertively, emphasizing his respect for past affiliations and leaders. However, his tenure with the Congress proved short-lived, lasting merely 280 days before his return to the BJP fold in January 2024.
Reuniting with the BJP in a ceremony attended by prominent party figures such as former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and state BJP chief BY Vijayendra, Shettar articulated his faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting his belief in Modi's leadership for the forthcoming 2024 general elections.
Before his brief interlude with the Congress, Shettar had been a stalwart member of the BJP since 1986, boasting an illustrious political career marked by significant ministerial roles and a stint as Karnataka's Chief Minister from July 2012 to May 2013.
Explaining his return to the BJP, Shettar cited the party's past allocation of responsibilities to him and expressed gratitude for the support and encouragement he received from BJP workers urging him to rejoin the party ranks.
Shettar's association with the BJP has been pivotal in shaping the party's trajectory in Karnataka, particularly among the Lingayat community, a substantial voting demographic in the state. Alongside former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, Shettar played a crucial role in bolstering the BJP's influence among the Lingayats, who constitute approximately 16% of Karnataka's population.
The political landscape in Karnataka witnessed a seismic shift when Shettar assumed the mantle of speaker during Yediyurappa's tenure as Chief Minister in 2008, subsequently transitioning to a ministerial position in the Yediyurappa cabinet. These developments marked the BJP's ascendancy in southern India, with Karnataka emerging as a bastion for the party.
Despite the BJP's defeat in the subsequent Karnataka assembly elections in 2013, Shettar continued to wield influence within the party, serving as its chief ministerial candidate and leading the opposition in the state assembly.
Shettar's return to the BJP signifies a strategic realignment for both parties. With the BJP facing setbacks in the Karnataka elections of May 2023 and Shettar experiencing defeat in the assembly polls, their reunion heralds a mutual quest for resurgence and political revival. The BJP is poised to entrust Shettar with greater responsibilities, envisioning his pivotal role in the state's political landscape and the forthcoming 2024 elections, while Shettar seeks to leverage the BJP's organizational prowess to reignite his political fortunes and bolster the party's standing in Karnataka.
