Yatras, events will not help Cong, says Shettar

Hubballi: As the Congress has lost its base and existence, the party leaders, mainly members of the Gandhi family, are on the road, former chief minister Jagadish Shettar said on Monday.
Addressing the BJP Dharwad district rural unit executive meeting after inaugurating it in Hubballi on Monday, he said: “Earlier, members of the Gandhi family and top leaders were not used to meeting their party leaders easily, even chief ministers of their party. Because of the BJP, which is the largest political party in the world with the highest numbers of workers, now members of the Gandhi family have descended on the road to meet workers and leaders of their party.”
The padyatras, Bharat Jodo and mass events of the Congress and the appointment of Mallikarjun Kharge as AICC president will not help the party regain its foothold, Shettar said and added that in the recent by elections for seven assembly constituencies in Telangana and other parts of the country, four seats went to the BJP but the Congress didn't win a single one.
He said AICC president Kharge will be the third power centre of the Congress in the state. The Congress already has two power centres - one and two are DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, third will be Kharge, Shettar added.
“The BJP is not scared of the Congress. The Congress is scared and has lost its base and struggling for existence, let them do anything nothing will happen,” said Shettar.
“In 2023 assembly elections, the BJP will win again and form the government in the state. In the Centre also there is no match to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP will retain power once again,” Shettar said.
Will contest if party picks me: Nimbannavar
Kalaghatagi MLA CM Nimbannavar told reporters that he is still fit. “I will contest in the elections if the party gives a ticket having confidence in me,” he said. He also said there were many aspirants for the ticket from Kalaghatagi.
Former MLA Seema Masuti said she is also an aspirant for the ticket to contest the Dharwad assembly constituency, where the party has a sitting MLA. “The party high command will give tickets based on the survey report. I am a strong aspirant for a ticket,” she said.
BJP district president Basavaraj Kundgolmath, BJP disciplinary committee chairman Lingaraj Patil and others were present.