On a day when scores of BJP workers performed ‘Sudarshana Homa’ and offered special pooja at Lord Shiva’s temple here for elevation of rural development and panchayat raj minister Jagadish Shettar as Chief Minister, his younger brother Pradeep Shettar exuded confidence that leader’s promotion would help fill the vacuum in leadership among Lingayats in north Karnataka.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, he said he was confident that Mr Shettar, who rushed to New Delhi for a meeting with party president Nitin Gadkari and other senior leaders, would take over the key post within the next two-three days and would lead the government in such a way that the party would regain its hold on the electorate of north Karnataka, and win at least 125 seats in next year’s polls to the Legislative Assembly. “Our brother is a prominent Lingayat leader. He lost the opportunity to become CM last time because he was let down by own partymen. Now, the situation has changed with the faction led by former CM B S Yeddyurappa supporting him. Therefore, we are hopeful that the BJP’s parliamentary board will clear his candidature in a couple of days,” he added.
Mr Shettar said on his elevation as CM, his brother would focus on solving problems of farmers who are facing acute scarcity conditions. The minister’s residence was packed with party workers who were eager to hear the news about his promotion at the end of the meeting at party president Nitin Gadkari’s residence in New Delhi on Tuesday. Meanwhile, several hundred party workers invoked the almighty and performed pooja to ensure that all leaders shunned their differences.