Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa shared the dais and appeared friendly at a state-level convention of the Hugar community here on Sunday.
Though Yeddyurappa had denied the possibility of continuing in the BJP just a few hours before the convention, his behaviour was cordial towards the CM. Yeddyurappa was greeted with a big round of applause when he approached the podium. The Lingayat leader requested the community to be united to draw the attention of the government and urged Shettar to work for the betterment of Hugars.
Meanwhile, Shettar described Yeddyurappa as a mass leader. Responding to demands of Hugar Samaj, Shettar assured that the government was ready to provide land for halls for the community and that he would instruct officials to consider all Hugars in 2A group of backward communities. Both leaders left the dais together to attend a programme in Athani.