BJP MP Mangala Angadi throws weight behind Cong's Jagdish Shettar, embarrasses party

BJP MP Mangala Angadi predicting the victory of former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar, who was a popular BJP leader and ditched the saffron party over a tiff with his former party colleagues, raised many eyebrows. While Angadi rallying behind Shettar embarrassed BJP as the party worked hard to retain power in Karnataka.

Belagavi: In an embarrassment to the BJP at a time when the party is locked in a close contest with the Congress, party MP Mangala Angadi on Wednesday threw her weight behind rebel leader Jagadish Shettar, who joined Congress recently, saying he will win in Hubballi. At the same time, she also predicted a win for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Interacting with the media after voting at the Kannada Government Senior Primary School polling station at Visvesvaraya Nagar in Belgaum, Angadi said BJP will win 13 seats in Belgaum district. Her support for Jagadish Shettar has raised many eyebrows in the saffron party. She has also explained the reason for Jagadish Shettar's victory saying he has been a devoted party man, who has been working in the area for decades.

Her comments prompted a media query over the possibility of her switching sides. Responding to the media's question on whether she will switch over her loyalties, she said, "I will not desert the party, I will remain in the BJP and there is a good response from voters for our party."

Angadi's comment on former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar, who was a popular BJP leader and ditched the saffron party over a tiff with his former party colleagues, indicated the leader's support base in the BJP. Barely days after Jagdish Shettar left the BJP, he was given a ticket by Congress to contest from the Hubli Dharwad Central assembly constituency. Meanwhile, BJP and Congress leaders fought a battle of ballot and exuded confidence of their victories.