Pics: Pariksheeth Shet
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (RJP)

Udupi, Dec 25: Independent candidate for MLC elections Jayaprakash Hegde on Friday December 25 said that the Congress, from which he was expelled recently, ought to take action against its member Deviprasad Shetty for 'dividing' votes and warned the party that it would have to pay the price if it continued to engage in making personal attacks against him in media.

Addressing a press meet here, J P Hegde said, "While Congress leaders have been issuing warnings to voters, Belapu Deviprasad Shetty has been dividing the votes between Congress and BJP. Congress should take appropriate action against him.

"There are various attempts being made to force voters into electing Pratapchandra Shetty. Voters should not get intimidated. Voting is done with privacy in a booth where mobiles phones are not allowed. Nobody will know who has voted for whom.

"Some people who supported the rebel candidates are being suspended. Before suspending them, the Congress needs to take action against Belapu Deviprasad Shetty who is dividing Congress and BJP votes," Hegde charged.

"Congress will pay the price if it continues my character assassination in private channels. Vinay Kumar Sorake's claim that I have the backing of a businessman is completely false. Byndoor MLA Gopal Poojary says that Sorake did not say those words. There is a lack of understanding between Sorake and Gopal Poojary. Let Sorake, Gopal Poojary come for public debate," Hegde challenged.

J P Hegde failed to follow party principles: Congress

Meanwhile, in a separate press meet the same day, the Congress hit out at Jayaprakash Hegde saying that he had failed to assimilate the principles and ideology of the party and that only a few of his followers who came into Congress when he joined are supporting him now, while the 'true' Congressmen are backing the party's official candidate Pratapchandra Shetty.

"Jayaprakash Hegde joined Congress after contesting the elections as an independent several times. Still, he has failed to assimilate the principles and ideology of the party. Hence, he decided to renounce Congress and contest as an independent candidate. Only a few party workers, who had come to Congress along with J P Hegde, have gone with him now. The true Congress workers are in full support of our candidate Pratapchandra Shetty," said chief secretary of Udupi district Congress committee BNarasimhamurthy.

"As an MLC, Pratapchandra was in constant touch with panchayat members at all levels, MLAs and MPs and did his work with diligence. Hence, their support to him is guaranteed and we are confident that he will win," he added.

"J P Hegde has been claiming that there is a scarcity of party workers in Congress. This party has units at district, block and ward levels and also youth wings. J P Hegde's claim thus reflects his own helplessness," he said.

KPCC member Raghuram Shetty Byndoor, disrict Congress vice-president B Hiriyanna Kundapur and others were present.