Pic: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 1: BJP leader and former MP Jayaprakash Hegde on Wednesday May 1 said that he would speak up if his party leaders commit any mistake, even if it is at the cost of getting expelled.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of the English translation of the autobiography of former minister, the late B A Moideen, J P Hegde said, "It does not matter if I get expelled again, but if the party leaders commit a wrong, I will speak up and call it out.

"No matter which party you are in, you are expected to toe the party line and listen to your leaders. But I speak as expected in a democratic setup. If any party leader does something wrong, I will not support it, and instead, I will show it," he said.

It may be recalled that before joining the BJP in 2017, J P Hegde was in the Congress, till he was expelled for contesting against the party’s official candidate in the Legislative Council polls from Dakshina Kannada-Udupi in 2015 as he was unhappy with the party's choice. Even before that, he had won elections as JD(S) candidate.

While the parties in the state were busy finalising candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, J P Hegde's supporters had hoped that the BJP would give him the ticket. There were specualtions that if denied by the BJP, he may jump ship and contest on JD(S) ticket. However, even though the BJP gave the ticket to sitting MP Shobha Karandlaje, J P Hegde stayed put dismissing all rumours of him leaving the party.