Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Dec 4: Former president of zilla panchayat and Karnataka Pradesh Congress committee (KPCC) member Bhujanga Shetty on Friday December 4 announced that he would be contesting the upcoming MLC elections as an independent candidate as the party had let him down.
Addressing a press meet here, Bhujanga Shetty said, "I have tolerated every criticism and comment in the past and I have been waiting from 18 years for the right moment. I was confident that I would get the MLC ticket this year. But some people forced Pratapchandra Shetty to contest in the election, even after he sent a letter that he would not contest.
"I have given my best for the past 38 years to the Congress party. How did they offer the ticket to Pratapchandra Shetty without considering other aspirants? Going by the present scenario in Congress party, it is very clear that leaders do not have interest in encouraging young leaders. I did not take even a single paisa from the party and I have given my service without any expectations in return. I am working from my own office for the public," he said.
"There was a decision that any aspirant could contest in the election. But how did they unanimously declare the name of Pratapchandra Shetty? This is a political conspiracy. Poor people are suffering everyday and no politician is interested in hearing the public. There are no basic amenities in the Brahmavar RTC department. Party leaders have no respect for workers and their interests. They are justifying their mistakes," Shetty added.
"We will go to every house. We will meet not only own party members, but also members from other parties. We will try to give our best to the society. What we are doing now is not against the Congress party. We are opposing the whole political system," Shetty concluded.
It may be added here that MLC ticket for Pratapchandra Shetty has not been officially announced yet.
Prithviraj Shetty, the president of Kota block Youth Congress, Shankar Kundar, the president of Kota block Congress, Sudarshan Hegde and Godwin Menezes were present.