Udupi: Former MLA, UR Sabhapathi’s statements at Kundapur saying that Jayaprakash Hegde had no existence and was irrelevant in the politics. If Mr. Hegde is irrelevant and no existence, then why are his supporters in large numbers leaving the congress every day ?, asks Rajesh Shetty Birthi former Brahmavar Block Congress President.

While speaking to media persons at Udupi Press Club, he said that UR Sabhapathy had sold his ticket for money and then fled to JD(S) and other parties. When he resigned from the Congress party, none of his supporters resigned from congress along with him. But Jayaprakash Hegde had expelled from Congress still his supporters and fans resigned from the congress. Hegde was expelled from the congress party in December 2015 for contesting as a rebel in the Legislative Council elections.

He said Sabhapathy should see into himself before commenting on Hegde who is a great politician. Sabhapathy has no right to question Hegde in regard to existence in politics. After Hegde joined the congress party that its organizational structure became active and marginally built very strong. Janardhan Poojary, Senior leader of Congress has also said that Congress party had made injustice to Hegde. Pratapchandra Shetty had declined from contesting in the council polls. However, Pratapchandra Shetty had later contested as congress candidate in council and won the election.

Asking to ZP and TP election stand of the Hegde supporters, Birthi said that the intention of Hegde’s supporters was to remain neutral. But we will support candidates with good records in respective constituencies even will support indirectly to the Bharathiya Janata Party in some constituencies. We will support non-Congress candidates in the forthcoming elections to the local bodies. Any how congress should be defeated.

Congress will witness a setback though it is in power in the state that the government has failed to address the issues like from 9 and 11. Even Kumki rights government failed to do the justice. Congress has setback in this election and we noticed that there are no volunteers to distribute broachers in Brahmavar surroundings. As far as BPL cards, earlier they targeted to distribute more BPL cards and even given prizes to those who made more cards. The panchayat officials were disturbed and compelled to give more BPL cards. Due to the pressure, cards were also given to people who were not eligible, he alleged.

Along with Rajesh Shetty Birthi, former high category leaders like Gopal bangera, Vikas Shetty, Prithy Shetty were present on the press meet.