Mangaluru: A disappointed and dejected former MLA Vijayakumar Shetty is contemplating switching allegiance to the BJP as he failed to get a Congress ticket for the Karnataka Assembly elections from Mangaluru North Constituency, which was given to sitting MLA Moideen Bava.

Vijayakumar Shetty and his supporters have openly expressed his displeasure over missing the party ticket. This faction within the Congress party has created confusions in the minds of party workers involved in the constituency.

Shetty had recently claimed that the Congress high command had assured him of an opportunity to become a Vidhana Parishad member but it remained just an assurance. Allegedly, the party leaders had even assured to make him District Congress President, which has also remained a distant dream.

It may be also recalled that Shetty was at the forefront of the protests against Yettinahole project. During the protests, he had expressed his dissatisfaction about the Congress party not supporting the Yettinahole agitation.

All these factors may be pushing Vijay Kumar Shetty to switch alliance. Sources close to BJP have also revealed that the BJP has spoken with Shetty to persuade him to join the party.