Udupi : National Congress Party has given MLC election candidate ticket to two term member of legislative council and Vice President of Karnataka State Congress Committee Sri Pratapchandra Shetty from undivided D.K. districts. Congress Party is National Party which has history. Some supporters of Jayaprakash Hegde argue that Pratapchandra Shetty is not active in Congress Party and given ticket to MLC election which will be held on 27th December, 2015. But it is not true. Pratapchandra Shetty very active in Congress Party, said U. R. Sabhapathy, former MLA of Udupi Constituency and active member of Congress Party.

Addressing a press conference at Udupi, he said Congress Party has given plenty of opportunities to Jayaprakash Hegde. Pratapchandra Shetty participated in all issues in the legislative assembly. He has also hard worked to draw the attention of the state for the completion of Varahi irrigation project. The Congress workers wanted Pratapchandra Shetty to contest in MLC election and held protest in favor of Pratapchandra Shetty. All the Congress Ministers and MLA’s of Udupi and D.K. districts united and discussed about the candidature of Pratapchandra Shetty. Even discussed the MLC election candidate issue in Udupi district congress committee and Jayaprakash Hegde was also present during the meeting. Sabhapathy said that Jayaprakash Hegde professionally high court lawyer should not create misunderstanding and confusion within the party, though he was MLA and MP from congress party.

U. R. Sabhapathy said Pratapchandra Shetty has no thirst for power. He agreed to contest only after party workers demanded strongly. Jayaprakash Hegde was state and national leader of the party. Congress party gives scope to all. On behalf of Jayaprakash Hegde in previous Loksabha election, Vinay Kumar Sorake didn’t get the ticket. But Sorake later won MLA seat from Kaup constituency. Hegde pressurized Oscar Fernandes to allow him to join Congress. The congress party has welcomed Jayaprakash Hegde and given opportunity to contest the elections. Hegde blamed Pratapchandra Shetty in most of the times. It could be personal grudge with Pratachandra Shetty. So may be in that sense Jayaprakash Hegde decided to contest the MLC election as an independent candidate. Jayaprakash Hegde has become an opportunist.

Siddaramaiah has tried to convince Jayaprakash Hegde to withdraw his nomination. But he did not respond the request from C.M. The congress party members should wait their turn in Congress and not be hasty. Once Sabhapathy himself turned against the congress party and lost the election. Like me, Jayaprakash Hegde also made great mistake.

He said that there are 3,465 members in 230 villages of D.K. district and 2,477 members in 158 villages in Udupi district. The congress party candidate may be able to get more than half the votes out of a total of 5,942. We are visiting every village panchayat and we are confident of winning more than 2,900 votes as well.

Prithviraj Shetty, Gopal Krishna, Harish Shetty and others were present during the press meet at Udupi.