“I am happy that tomorrow I am attending a party meeting (BJPLP) after 18 months,” he said soon after he was sworn in as minister on Tuesday. During the recent political crisis, he accused of ‘dishonouring’ the post he held, by allowing political activities at his residence and also meeting party leaders in Delhi. Reacting to the allegations, he said he did not do any act that degraded his post. Excerpts from an interview with Shettar:

 Finally, your demand to get into the Cabinet has been fulfilled. How do you feel?
Except disappointment for not being able to interact with party workers, I am satisfied with my days as Speaker. Now, I am happy that I have returned to active politics and will respond to problems faced by the public.

Do you feel that you got berth only because of the Reddys?

No. It was the high command’s decision to make me minister.

You are inducted into the Cabinet as a fall-out of the dissidence in the party. You were in the centre of these activities...

There is no point in revisiting whatever happened all these days. As of now, there is no dissidence in the party. All the leaders will work together. There are no groups in the party. A new chapter in the party has begun. The party high command has issued certain guidelines which every leader has to follow.

What is immediate task after getting into the Cabinet?

The recent political developments affected the relief works in flood-hit areas to a certain extent. The next immediate task of the government is to provide proper relief to the flood-affected.