Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai filed his nominations as BJP's candidate from Shiggaon constituency on Saturday. Meanwhile, former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who has been asked by the BJP high command to drop his candidature, said that denying him a ticket will have an effect on atleast 20 to 25 seats in the state.
“Will wait for the party's decision on the ticket till tomorrow and then I will decide my next course of action,” said Shettar.
The BJP has not yet released the list of candidates for 12 constituencies including Hubli-Dharwad Central, Shettar's constituency.
The aim behind the high command's decision was to pave way for the youth to come in.
"The party has to ensure that it should not have any negative impact. Even former CM B S Yediyurappa has said that if Shettar does not get a ticket, then it will have a bearing not in just one place...it will have an immediate effect in many constituencies in north Karnataka -- at least 20 to 25 constituencies," said Shettar.
"It will indeed have an effect across Karnataka but the immediate impact will be seen in 20 to 25 constituencies," he added.
While filing the nomination papers, he expressed his confidence of getting elected again with the highest number of votes.
Bommai has represented the constituency thrice since 2008.
Before filing his nomination, he had visited Shiggaon's 'Dyamavva Devi' temple.
"I have filed my nomination today. People of my Shiggaon constituency have supported me tremendously in the past and this time too, I'm confident of breaking all the records and getting elected with the highest number of votes. People here are aware voters and they vote for development," said Bommai.
He said that he will be filing nomination once again on April 19 in the presence of BJP leaders including J. P. Nadda.
In the 2018 Assembly polls, Bommai won in Shiggaon by about 9,260 votes.
He quit Janata Dal (United) and joined the BJP in 2008 and in the Assembly elections held later that year got elected as MLA from Shiggaon constituency in Haveri district.
Meanwhile, several supporters had gathering at Shettar's residence on Saturday demanding the ticket for him to contest. Some Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation councillors offered to tender their resignation as well.
The BJP has so far put out a list of 212 candidates for the Assembly election and has not yet announced the names of remaining 12 seats.
The 224-seat Assembly in Karnataka will go to polls on May 10 and the results are scheduled to come out on May 13.
(With PTI inputs)
