Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Dec 9: Even as dissidence brews in Congress over the nomination of Pratapchandra Shetty as the candidate for the upcoming MLC polls, Congress party worker Harikrishna Bantwal on Wednesday, December 9 filed his nomination as an independent candidate at the DC's office.
Speaking to reporters later, Bantwal said, "I have filed my nomination as a loyal Congress worker. I am questioning the self respect of voters of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in this election. Elections are for people who have money and who want to make money. I do not have either money or muscle power. But I have confidence and large number of workers with me who have worked for Congress party from a long time. There is no opportunity for loyal and genuine party workers these days. I have filed this nomination on behalf of all the good people, not only from Congress but from all other parties. At least in the coming days, the leaders should recognise and respect the good party workers. I have not filed my nomination for want of power or just to be an MLC. There is no question of taking back my nomination. None of the leaders should do this mistake again in the coming elections.
"I have not filed the nomination of my own wish. I have been in the political field for the past 43 years and I have an association with former union minister Janardhan Poojary for 33 years. I have never asked for any ticket or party position. I have been with him because this country needs leaders like him. Today he has told me not to contest, but I have gone against his word because no one has spoken about the loyal party workers. There is no question of taking back the nomination. We want Congress that was built by Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi not the Congress built by Oscar," Bantwal added.
"On being chosen as MLC I will raise the issue of Yettinahole in the legislative council and make sure that the project is stopped," Bantwal said while talking about the Yettinahole issue.
Kallige Tharnath Shetty, Arun Coelho and huge number of Harikrishna Bantwal's supporters were present.