Bengaluru, UNI/IBNS: Former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, who quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday for being denied party ticket in the 2023 state polls, formally joined the Congress party here on Monday.

He was welcomed by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar and LoP Siddaramaiah.

Shettar reached the Congress office in Bengaluru on Monday.

"There will be no demands from Jagadish Shettar, we don't offer anything. He (Jagadish Shettar) will have to agree with the principles and the leadership of the party. We want to keep the country united and only Congress can do that," Shivakumar said.

Shettar's Rebellion

The Karnataka BJP is roiled by rebellion as the former Chief Minister, Jagadish Shettar, earlier announced that he is upset after the party asked him to make way for others in the upcoming state assembly elections.

Shettar, the MLA from Hubballi, has won six elections in the past.

He won by over 21,000 votes in the last assembly election in 2018, defeating his Congress rival Mahesh Nalwad.

After the party indicated he won't be given a ticket this time, the senior politician told reporters: "Last six elections I got elected with a margin of more than 21,000 votes. What are my minus points?"