Udupi: Former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar was given a favorable status by the Congress party,  despite losing the last Vidhan Sabha election by 35 thousand votes, he was appointed as a member of the Vidhan Parishad, said Lakshmi R Hebbalkar, the Minister of Women and Child Development and the Udupi District In-charge, expressed shock at Jagdish Shettar's decision to return to the BJP.

Speaking to reporters in Udupi on Friday, Hebbalkar stated that local Congress workers had dedicatedly worked day and night for Shettar. She expressed confusion about Shettar's decision and emphasized that he should provide an explanation for leaving the Congress party, stating that such occurrences should be avoided in politics. She remarked, "It's like the little one who came, the little one who went."

Belagavi district MLA Laxman Savadi affirmed his commitment to the Congress party and clarified that he would not leave for any reason. Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar asserted that Savadi joined the Congress because his self-respect was threatened in the BJP, and there is no possibility of him leaving the party.

Despite the state facing a drought, common people are living comfortably due to the government's guarantee schemes. Hebbalkar credited the success to the government's Shakti Yojana, which has benefited 100 crore women so far. She mentioned plans to study the guarantee scheme further and focus on women's empowerment in the upcoming days.

Regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Hebbalkar announced that suitable candidates would be fielded. She indicated that further discussions on the selection of candidates would take place by February 15.