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

Udupi, Dec 15: A day after he was expelled from Congress for six years for contesting as a rebel candidate in the upcoming MLC elections, a visibly hurt former MP Jayaprakash Hegde convened a press meet to respond to the party's move.

"I have called this press meet to explain myself and respond to certain claims and allegations by Congress leaders, as I do not want people to think that whatever being said by the leaders is correct just because I am silent," he said.

"I have won twice in Brahmavar and once from Kundapur, and also on the request of MLC Pratapchandra Shetty, I had stood for Lok Sabha by-elections from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency. When no one from the party was ready to contest the MP by-election, I came forward and won too. During my work as MP, I got good response from the people and party workers of Udupi and Chikkamagaluru," he said.

"But now the Congress leaders have forgotten the development I brought to the constituency as well as the work I did for Congress. Even when I was in JD(S), I supported Congress. I did not expect anything from the party, but now I am being rewarded with expulsion," he added.

"Pratapchandra Shetty never canvassed during elections. He had been saying from the past six years that he did not want to contest, and only because of that we wanted to fill the void that he would create. That is why we (independent candidates) filed our nominations. If Congress had chosen anyone else in place of Pratapchandra, we would have supported that candidate.

"We had brought the matter to the attention of party leaders many times. The candidate chosen should have been one who has worked at the gram panchayat level and attended meetings regularly," J PHegde said.

"Even after I lost the last Lok Sabha elections, I worked for Udupi and Chikkamagalur, and party workers have continued their support to me. The party has been built in various ways. I did not go to any other party despite losing the election," he added.

Stating that party leaders should avoid personal attacks, he said, "MLA Gopal Poojary and minister Vinay Kumar Sorake are making a lot of statements on the matter, but they should keep me out of their debates."

"Had I not strived hard during my tenure as minister, Udupi would have remained a taluk. I still remember my experience as in-charge of the undivided Dakshina Kannada district and I also cherish the experience of winning from Brahmavar. People have seen my work and I will continue the same. The party has not taken any action against those who are inactive, but I have been expelled despite the work I have done. How far is that right?" he questioned.

Responding to allegations that he was hungry for power, J P Hegde said, "I do not want power. It is fine if I do not get any position. I am someone who had given up power. What is important is the work you do and not the position you hold."

Asked if his association with Congress had ended, he said, "I may have stood for the MLC elections as independent or rebel candidate, but it does not mean my association with Congress will end. It will continue despite the expulsion."

"Leaders should not consider themselves as superior. Gopal Poojary has claimed that he has talked to party workers and members about deciding on the MLC candidate, but he did not. When Blasius D'Souza and Pratapchandra Shetty had stood for MLC elections in 2003, I had supported them independently even though I was not in Congress, and they had won. But now they forgotten all that.

"Congress should take everyone together, or people will give a fitting reply," he added.

Asked to predict the MLC election result, he said he was confident of being ahead.

Congress leader Bhujanga Shetty, who withdrew his nomination after J P Hegde filed his, said, "I took back my nomination in support of J P Hegde as promised. I Congress thinks I am doing anything wrong, it can expel me too. I am ready to face any consequence."

Rahmatulla, Godwin Menezes and others were present.