Pics: Pareekshith Shet
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (AS)
Udupi, Dec 6: A day after Congress decided to field Pratapchandra Shetty as its candidate from Dakshina Kannada-Udupi constituency for the MLC elections, former MP Jayaprakash Hegde hit out at the Congress top brass and said that the ticket should not have been given to someone who was not intestered in contesting.
J P Hegde, who is contesting as an independent candidate, spoke to reporters here on Sunday December 6 and informed that he along with Bhujanga Shetty, another senior Congressman will be filing their nominations on Monday December 7 at 12 noon.
Addressing reporters, he said, "Pratapchandra Shetty has been telling from the last six years that he does not want to contest the MLC elections. He is not even interested in it, nor is he participating in party activities of late. I do not understand why the party's top leaders are still supporting his candidature.
"There are many in Congress who are more capable than him. It is not right to give him the ticket without discussing with the party members or considering other candidates," he added.
"I am not asking for the ticket, it could have been given to someone more capable. I am standing for elections on behalf and support of Congress party workers.
"I will file the nomination on December 7 at 12 noon. If by December 12 (last date to withdraw nomination) some other capable candidate from Congress from Udupi-Dakshina Kannada constituency stands for the election, I will withdraw my nomination," he said.
"The Congress is not listening to its party workers. It is wrong to give ticket to someone who is not interested in contesting," he reiterated.
Apart from J P Hegde and Bhujanga Shetty, Kota block Congress president Shankar Kunder and Billawa community leader Harikrishna Bantwal will also file their nominations at the same time.