Im in the race, claims Shettar

BANGALORE: Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar, who had kept to himself all these days, on Monday openly said he was also a contender for the CM’s post and claimed the support of several MLAs.By projecting Shettar, the Kumar camp is said to be trying to create an impression among the powerful Lingayat votebank that Yeddyurappa, despite being a Lingayat, is coming in the way of a Lingayat becoming the CM.According to sources, efforts are being made by the Kumar camp to reach out to all Lingayat mutts in North Karnataka with a request to support Shettar. However, it is quite unlikely they would succeed given the kind of clout Yeddyurappa enjoys with the mutts, they add.