Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)

Mangaluru, Apr 25: Former MLA Vijay Kumar Shetty who was aspirant of Congress ticket from Mangaluru North constituency on Wednesday April 25 alleged that Congress had broken its promise to him in awarding the ticket to sitting MLA Mohiuddin Bava.

Addressing a press meet here, he said that last election he had sacrificed his seat to Mohiuddin Bava and clearly told the party leadership that the sacrifice was only for a term. "However, the party leadership has broken the agreement by giving ticket to Mohiuddin Bava for second term," he alleged.

Shetty said that senior party leaders A K Antony, Oscar Fernandes and Janardhan Poojary had promised him an MLC seat for giving up his seat in Mangaluru North. However, when the time came, they failed to keep up the promise. "I expected in this election, I would be allowed to contest from my previous constituency. However, some local party leaders played games and pressurized the party leadership to deny me a ticket," he said.

Shetty added that he was waiting for AICC president Rahul Gandhi’s visit to the district. "I already got permission from K C Venugopal, state party in-charge and P C Vishnunath, AICC secretary for a meeting with Rahul. I shall bring the issue and the promise made by senior party leaders to his notice. Based on his reply, I will plan the future course of action," he said.

He also warned that if he fails to get a suitable reply, he would make public the names of local Congress leaders who acted against him.

Putting rumours to rest that he was contemplating to join the BJP, Shetty said, "I don’t have any intention to join BJP or any other party. No other party in India is better than Congress. So there is no question of leaving the party. I lost the ticket to contest the elections only because of a few local leaders."

Nagaveni, corporator, Uttam Alva, vice-president of Youth Congress, Purushottama, Anita Alva, Reshma and Karunakar were present at the press meet.