Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Dec 26: Independent candidate for the upcoming legislative council election from local bodies constituency, Harikrishna Bantwal, who was recently expelled from Congress, has alleged that Congress candidate from the twin-districts Pratapchandra Shetty has been distributing money to voters, as he is 'staring at certain defeat' in the election, which has made him 'jittery'.

Addressing a press conference at BC Road here on Friday December 25, Harikrishna claimed that every voter is being given Rs 10,000 in cash by Shetty. He lamented that the Congress, by resorting to ulterior tactics, has been making efforts to undermine democratic principles.

"Please do not sell your self respect for money. I ask you to elect a person who will always be thinking about the development of villages, and work hard for this goal," he requested the voters. He strongly advocated revision of salary and allowances for gram panchayat members, who get elected by the people, like the hike in salaries of MLAs, MPs etc. He said if he is elected as a member of the legislative council, he will fight for this rights of gram panchayat members.

Harikrishna stated that he had, in the past, announced to pay one lac rupees to anyone who proves that Congress candidate, Pratapchandra Shetty, had visited any of the gram panchayats in Bantwal taluk during his tenure. "None of the leaders from the party dared to accept this challenge. Young generation wants an administration that is free of corruption in the country. Therefore, without getting enticed by any lures, voters should cast their franchise in my favour. As this is a secret ballot, gram panchayat members, who have been chosen without allegiance to political parties during the election, should choose me as their representative by casting both first and second preference votes to me," he urged.

In reply to a question raised by media persons, Harikrishna admitted that BJP candidate, Kota Srinivas Poojary, happens to be a capable candidate and appreciated the style of his functioning.

He lamented the fact that veteran Congress leader, Janardhana Poojary, who worked strenuously to build the party, has been made inconsequential in the party. "In all the elections, he got involved with publicity work in favour of party candidates. But this time, the party has totally forgotten about Poojary. None of the party leaders used his services to canvass for party candidates. He was sidelined because he happens to be the leader of backward classes," he felt.

Harikrishna Bantwal asserted that he will herald a new revolution by winning this election, and predicted that this result will cast its shadow on the outcome of the coming taluk and zilla panchayat elections.

"I may have been expelled from the party. But they cannot expel me from the hearts of the party activists. I will expel those who have expelled me," he thundered. He asked the people to wait and watch in the coming days as he brings to practice what he has committed himself to do.