JOIN USChief Minister Jagadish Shettar proudly says that his wife Shilpa is his campaign manager in the Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly constituency.
But she says her husband did not want her to slog on the streets in the scorching sun. Yet, she is involving in house-to-house campaigning every day ever since her husband filed the nomination papers. He has been busy elsewhere in the State.
She spends not less than eight hours a day seeking votes for her husband.
“I have lost three kg in the last few days. I know people of this city so well because I have campaigned for Shettar in the past too,” she said with a smile on her face, though looking tired.
Shilpa, who is considered the “remote control of Shettar,” was found visiting houses in Subhash Nagar on Friday afternoon. She was followed by a group of women and a police van. State BJP president Pralhad Joshi’s wife Jyothi accompanied her.
“Shettar, in the last 10 months, has done so much for the State. So, give him an opportunity to serve more,” she was heard saying. She has already completed the first round of campaigning. She also plans to visit Dharwad Rural to campaign for the BJP nominee.
Shilpa told Deccan Herald that the BJP government as such had performed well. And, it would return to power.
“I can’t expect him to spend too much time campaigning here as he has the responsibility to canvass for his colleagues. So, I am campaigning for him and I am enjoying it, though my legs ache,” she said.
Is she interested in joining politics? Pat comes the reply, “No. I just want to be the force behind him. Also, it is not easy for women to sustain themselves in politics.”
Asked what is that one work of her husband as chief minister that made her happy, Shilpa said, “He regularised the services of daily wage workers. That has helped many families. He also took a bold decision to form 43 new taluks.”
Is she hopeful that her husband would become chief minister again?
“Yes. The BJP will get a majority. It is only the media and opposition parties that are making a huge issue of the rumblings in the party.”