Shakunthala Shetty, a blessing to Cong?

Puttur, Feb 27: She was a hardcore Sangh Parivar leader, a fighter and of course considered as a protégé of Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat! Often referred to as 'Uma Bharati' of Karnataka, Shakunthala Shetty has now distanced herself from the saffron brigade and has accepted the baton from KPCC Chief Dr G Parameshwar, thereby raising political temperature.

Ms. Shetty had lost to Congress 'heavyweight' Ramanath Rai twice in Bantwal. She later shifted base to Puttur under the guidance of Kalladka Bhat and DV Sadananda Gowda and there she was, winning the Assembly seat and proving a point.

Ms. Shetty then made her cabinet berth ambitions known and rejected the post of President of the State Coir Development Corporation when it was provided as an alternative to a place in the ministry. On being denied a ticket in the 2008 Assembly elections, she took on the BJP along with Urimajalu Ram Bhat and bagged 25,000 votes. She later set up the 'Swabhimani Vedike' and distanced herself from public life engaging herself in a cooperative society.

But now, with this sudden development of joining the Congress party, Ms. Shetty has decided to resume her political innings. Sources close to her say that she has done so only with the belief that she would be given election ticket from the Puttur constituency. Vinay Kumar Sorake, who has played a key role in getting her to the Congress folds, is keen on fielding Ms. Shetty in Puttur so that Congress regains its hold on his hometown.

However, Ms. Shetty claims that she has joined Congress without any expectations. “I did not propose any demands before joining the party. I have no expectations either”, she says.

Meanwhile, Urimajalu Ram Bhat has said that joining Congress party was a decision taken by Ms. Shetty on her own.

“It is her decision. She did not consult me before doing so. Let her tread on the path she has chosen. I am neither happy nor saddened at her decision to join Congress”, he says.

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