Shettar revealed to this reporter that the high command had offered him a ticket for Belagavi.

‍

All these years he had been contesting Assembly elections from Hubbali and had remained unbeaten since 1994 on the BJP ticket only to lose in the 2023 Assembly election when he stood on a Congress ticket, after he was denied a ticket by the saffron party.

‍

In 2019 parliamentary election, Suresh Angadi of the BJP had won the Belagavi seat. He succumbed to the Covid pandemic. In the bye- election, his wife , Mangala Angadi won the election by a narrow margin against Satish Jarkiholi of the Congress party.

Two years ago, interestingly, the Angadi and Shettar family grew close after Angadi's daughter married Shettar's son.

Shettar meanwhile is reported to have told the BJP, on his return to the saffron fold that he would not tolerate criticism and must be treated with respect.

‍

The offer of the Belagavi seat for which the BJP could find no suitable candidate until Shettar agreed to stand, is an indication that he is still valued.

‍

A victory in Belagavi for a native of Hubballi, although seen as tough, could see Shettar gain entry into the union cabinet if the BJP wins big.