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

Udupi, Feb 25: "Former MP Jayaprakash Hegde's supporters are the reason for my defeat in the zilla panchayat election where I lost by a small margin. But after my defeat, some people have started circulating some unwanted statements in the media as if those statements were made by me. I have called this press meet to clarify on the issue," said Mallika Balakrishna Poojary in a press meet here on Friday, February 25.

She said this while replying to a question from a reporter during the press meet. Mallika, who contested from Congress, lost to Sheela K Shetty of BJP in the recent ZP election in Brahmavar constituency.

"I have worked sincerely and efficiently for the Congress party for the past twenty years. I have worked hard for the victory of Congress candidates in many elections. I was the president of Brahmavar block Congress and have served the party in the grassroots level. Last time I won the zilla panchayat election because of the participation and hard work of senior leaders and party workers. This time I lost because of the handiwork of Jayaprakash Hegde's supporters. While they contributed to my defeat, some sections of the media have published wrong statements as if I had uttered these words," she said.

“It was reported that I made a statement saying the expulsion of J P Hegde was the reason for my defeat. I never said these words. His expulsion was entirely the party's decision and I am no one to oppose it. The people who were supposed to console me are doing these petty things. I am least bothered about defeat. It is common in life. Some section of the media also reported that I had said that lack of good leadership was the reason for my defeat this time. I did not say this. In fact Congress party leaders and workers worked hard and I managed to get 10,560 votes. I can only said that if the leaders in Udupi Assembly constituency had taken more initative, we could have retained the three seats we had won last time. I have always given my cent percent. People wanted me to contest because of my past achievements, hence I contested. I refused offers from other parties. Morality and ethics are more important to me than anything else," she said.

Terming Congressman Bhujanga Shetty, who had supported Jayaprakash Hegde during MLC elections and then disappeared from the scene, a 'villian', she alleged that he had used devious means to distribute money in the last two days of campaigning and taken it for granted that it would help the party win. "Late announcement of candidates, noncooperation from some panchayat candidates and a big number of NOTA votes are reasons for my defeat," she said. She praised Pramod Madhwaraj for the help he rendered during the election.

Mallika's husband Balakrishna Poojary elaborating on the issue said that former zilla panchayat president Bhujanga Shetty told the couple that they should go to Pramod Madhwaraj for votes, who could help them as MLA. The couple had gone to Bhujanga Shetty asking for help in campaigning for the election so that his supporters would vote for Mallika. He also said a statement made by U R Sabhapathi criticizing J P Hegde in Kundapur a few days before the election prompted Hegde’s supporters to retaliate which contributed to the Malliaka's defeat.