Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Dec 30: Jubilant over the victory of their candidate in the MLC polls, Congress leaders on Wednesday December 30 said that the victory set a precedent for the upcoming zilla panchayat (ZP) and taluk panchayat (TP) elections and showed that those who go against the party end up losing.

The Congress leaders and party workers held a 'Vijayotsava' (victory celebration) at the district Congress office after their candidate Pratapchandra Shetty won the MLC seat from Dakshina Kannada constituency. The party workers burst crackers and distributed sweets.

Addressing the gathering, former union minister Dr M Veerappa Moily said, "We are really happy with this victory. It serves as an example for the upcoming ZP and TP elections that if we are united, we can succeed. Many big leaders stood against Congress but they have not succeeded.

"This election has set the example that if we are united, we can win all the seats. This win is the victory of Congress party, of Pratapchandra Shetty, the chief minister and all party workers," he added.

In a veiled reference to BJP leader and chief of opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa, Moily said, "Some of our political opponents had said that if we won more than 10 seats, they would take retirement. Now he (Eshwarappa) should bow down to Congress or take political retirement."

Referring to rebel candidates Jayaprakash Hegde and Harikrishna Bantwal, without naming them, he said,
"If anyone questions or goes against the party, it is they who will end up losing, and not the party."

Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes said, "This is a victory of party workers, and I congratulate every party worker. This election is an example of the unity of all Congress party workers. All should work for the success of the party in the upcoming ZP and TP elections. We should work unitedly and choose candidates at the block levels for the upcoming elections, and thereby make it easy for KPCC to finalize. We should strengthen our party, and win the upcoming elections. I congratulate Pratapchandra on this victory."

Udupi district in-charge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake said, "We have succeeded in one entrance exam, but the real exam is the upcoming ZP and TP elections. All the party workers, leaders, district in-charge ministers, members of panchayats have worked hard for this victory. This election is an example of the unity of all party workers. We all had taken it as a challenge and succeeded in it. The rebel candidates have helped us introspect, and thereby helped us work hard for the victory of the party.

"BJP had 3,600 supporters among the voters, and its candidate got about 2,900-odd voters, whereas our party had 2,400 supporters and we secured 2200-odd votes. It means rebels have taken more votes from the BJP," he added.

"All the ministers and MLAs should take up development work within the next 10 days as again, the code of conduct will be in place for ZP and TP elections. We should start working for the elections at the earliest and strive unitedly for the success of the party. I congraulate Pratapchandra Shetty," Sorake said.

District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai, MLC Ivan D'Souza, MLA Shakuntala Shetty, MA Gafoor and scores of party leaders and workers were present.