Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, March 16: “We have lost elections believing in the Congress party last time. We will not commit that mistake this time again. There is no question of moving back from the 2023 Vidhana Sabha election fray,” said Bantwal Vidhana Sabha constituency SDPI party candidate Ilyas Thumbe.

Addressing journalists in a news conference at the B C Road Press Club Thumbe revealed the understanding that SDPI had with the Congress during the last elections.

"SDPI had decided to field 25 candidates in the electoral fray during the last elections. However, there was an agreement as per a request from influential Congress leaders on two conditions. It was also agreed that SDPI will contest only in three seats and Congress would field weak candidates there and ensure that SDPI candidates would emerge victorious in those seats. As per the agreement Congress candidates were to be supported in other seats by the SDPI in return," he said.

“But Congress did not stick to its word and BJP emerged victorious as some candidates joined the BJP. It was a Congress betrayal,” Thumbe lamented.

“Therefore, special attention is being given for party unity from the ground root level this time,” Ilyas Thumbe said.