Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Dec 8: With Pratapchandra Shetty, the Congress candidate for the forthcoming MLC elections facing intense opposition from party workers and some leaders, to the extent that former MP Jayaprakash Hegde and senior leader Bhujanga Shetty filed nominations as independent candidates, the Udupi Congress leaders on Tuesday December 8 came out in strong support of Pratapchandra, even as backdoor attempts are reportedly being made to convince the rebel candidates to withdraw from the fray.

In a press meet on Tuesday, a day after nominations were filed, the group of Congress leaders which included minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA Pramod Madhwaraj, former MLA Gopala Bhandary, Byndoor MLA Gopal Poojary and former MLA U R Sabhapathi, came in defence of Pratapchandra Shetty. The central figure of the present controversy, Pratapchandra Shetty was also present and addressed the meet.

Vinay Kumar Sorake said, "Pratapchandra Shetty has done a good job as MLC. He is not an outsider. He has been with us for the past 35 years. Oscar Fernandes, being a senior leader and part of the high command, was helpful in making the decision in fielding Pratapchandra Shetty. But before that, he held several consultations with the concerned.

"We should remember that except Dayananda Reddy, all the candidates fielded this time are incumbents. This is because of their performance. I agree that Pratapchandra Shetty has been saying from six years that he would not stand for elections. But the people want him. The party workers want him. We will do the campaigning at district, taluk and grassroot levels and make Pratapchandra Shetty the winner. Meanwhile we will convince Jayaprakash Hegde to withdraw his nomination," Sorake added.

Defending Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, Pramod Madhwaraj said, "We consulted all the people who were supposed to be consulted in connection with allotting party ticket in the MLC election. But Oscar Fernandes is blamed for no reason. Oscar is an impartial person. He should not be targeted like this."

Pratapchandra Shetty said, "I always had the intention of allowing others to take over from me. But my party workers have been insisting that I should contest this time. In my letter to the party workers in November also, I had made my intention very clear. Unfortunately the letter itself has become an issue now. I do not think I have committed any sin by contesting."

Gopal Poojary said "Jayaprakash Hegde is a senior leader. He has the right to contest. There are attempts to settle the issue peacefully. Congress leaders at the top level including the CM will convince Hegde to withdraw from the fray." 

Answering a question regarding complaints that he was inactive as MLC, Pratapchandra Shetty said, "I have visited gram panchayat as and when required. I have worked in taluk and district levels. As people's representative, I have raised voice for the common people. Ultimately, one is judged by performance and definitely not by what some people have to say."