From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru/Mangaluru (DV)

Bengaluru/Mangaluru, Dec 14: The Congress on Monday December 14 expelled rebel candidates Jayaprakash Hegde, Harikrishna Bantwal and sitting MLC B T Dayananda Reddy from the party for six years.

While Jayaprakash Hegde and Harikrishna Bantwal are contesting the MLC elections as independent candidates from Dakshina Kannada constituency, Dayananda Reddy is contesting as an independent from Bengaluru Urban.

Speaking to reporters after an official function on "Minimum Government, Maximum Governance," at Vikas Soudha in Bengaluru, chief minister Siddarmaiah made it clear that the party would not tolerate indiscipline.

Siddaramaiah, who had personally called the former minister and MP from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency, to withdraw from the race in favour of Congress party’s official candidate Pratapchandra Shetty, said the party’s decision has to be honoured. "We cannot allow individuals to dictate terms to party," he said.

Jayaprakash Hegde, Harikrishna Bantwal and B T Dayananda Reddy

J P Hegde and Harikrishna Bantwal were unhappy with the party for giving the ticket to sitting MLC Pratapchandra Shetty, who they said did not deserve it as he had failed to participate in party activities and had even expressed reluctance to contest the polls.

Sitting Congress MLC Dayananda Reddy, who has been denied the party ticket from Bengaluru Urban and has defied party directions to withdraw from contest, has also been expelled.

AICC member P V Mohan confirmed the expulsion and said that the action was taken based on the reccommendation of the district Congress to KPCC, which in turn reccommended the same to AICC.

Speaking to reporters, J P Hegde said that the expulsion from the party was expected. "The Congress has not expelled us for reasons such as corruption or dishonesty. I have always followed certain principles, based on which I am fighting the election. The party seems to have different rules for different people. I should have at least been given a chance to explain myself. When Pratapchandra Shetty engages in activities that are not in the interest of the party, he is rewarded, but I am being punished," he said.

Speaking to daijiworld, Harikrishna Bantwal said, "What good has the party done for me in the last 43 years anyway? It is not us but the big leaders who deserve to be expelled. It is because of them that the party has declined. It is this kind of attitude of the party leaders that has brought doom to Congress. In this MLC election, the entire backward class will turn against the party."

The Legislative Council elections will be held on December 27 and the results will be known December 30.