Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Dec 25: “Former minister Ramanath Rai is personally a good person. I had put him on the same pedestal that I have placed my mother on. But I had to leave Congress because of the step-motherly attitude shown towards me,” said former taluk panchayat member Madhava Mave who left Congress and joined BJP recently.

Speaking in the news conference held at BC Road, BJP office on Thursday, he said that he did not join BJP expecting any position or respect. “My self-esteem was damaged in Congress. I was criticised repeatedly. I had to leave the party when the seniors cornered me,” he said.

He gave details of the way he was treated in the Congress party. Referring to the statement by former minister Ramanath Rai that he is not a Congressman and that he was expecting a position, he said that he was with Ramanath Rai since the time Rai lost elections to Nagaraj Shetty. “I was in a responsible position in the Congress in Bengaluru also. Rai had given several responsible positions to me. I had tried hard to help Rai be victorious. I am not a migrant. I have not acted against the party. I have not taken help from Rai for my private business. I would have listened to him if he did. Rai had helped my daughter get a medical seat. I will not forget that,” he said.

“I have come to do social service. Rai had told me that he will make me the district president of backward classes. He failed to honour his word repeatedly. Though I got the opportunity with the initiative of Khader, I could not get the power because of Rai. I remained away from the internal politics of the party after that. It is like children leaving the house for personal reasons. I have come out of the house of Congress party. I have joined BJP to support the noble politics of MLA Rajesh Naik. Making Rajesh Naik win by a margin of 30,000 votes by working day and night in the upcoming elections is my agenda. I have joined the party in the presence of BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel,” he said.

Meanwhile, veteran Congressman Balakrishna Shetty joined BJP in the presence of Bantwal MLA Rajesh Naik. BJP chief secretary Ravish Shetty, Buda president Devadas Shetty, block committee president Devappa Poojary, Dombayya, Arala, Keshava Daipala, Ronald D’Souza, Vasanth Annalike, Sudarshan Baja, D K Hamza and others were present.