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Dakshina Kannada-Udupi local body election: It is a fight against rebels for Congress

Published On : 21 Dec 2015


Mangaluru (The Hindu): Congress party is confident of winning election to legislative council polls from Dakshina Kannada-Udupi local body constituency. Congress leaders say that selection of Prathapchandra Shetty as candidate was a unanimous decision. However, rebel candidates Jayaprakash Hegde and Harikrishna Bantwal say that honest party workers were ignored and decision was taken without the consent of leaders.

The party, which fielded former MLC Prathapchandra Shetty, is expecting support of over 3,000 voters even though they are facing dissidence with two rebel candidates. There are 6,558 voters, including members of gram panchayats and other local bodies, in Dakshina Kannada - Udupi constituency.

Congress MLC Ivan D'Souza, who has taken up the task of campaigning in villages, said that the selection of candidate was a unanimous decision. He said that Prathapchandra Shetty was selected as candidate in the presence of expelled Congress leader Jayaprakash Hegde, who is now a rebel candidate. Meanwhile, Jayaprakash Hegde, who is former minister and MP, denying Ivan D'Souza's claims, told TOI that he was not present when the process of candidate selection was held by MP Oscar Fernandes.

Ivan D'Souza said, "the selection of Prathapchandra Shetty as party candidate in the election was a unanimous decision by the party leaders. No leaders have opposed when party leaders including MP Oscar Fernandes suggested the name Prathapchandra Shetty. It was not an individual decision taken by Oscar Fernandes. All Congress leaders including Jayaprakash Hegde were present during candidate selection process. They should not contest against the party just because they did not get party ticket."

When contacted, Jayaprakash Hegde said that the selection of candidate was not held in his presence as claimed by Ivan D'Souza. "Oscar Fernandes had said that a decision will be taken after discussion. Prathapchandra Shetty had said that he is not contesting for MLC election. Hence, I had requested Oscar Fernandes to hold a discussion before finalizing candidate. Now it is too late to discuss about selection of candidature, because the election process has already started and we are in the campaign too. I am confident of my victory," Hegde said and alleged that Congress leaders are resorting to arm twisting tactics to make voters to vote in favour of Prathapchandra Shetty.

Harikrishna Bantwal, who was general secretary of Dakshina Kannada District Congress, said, "greed for power of few leaders is destroying the Congress."

Photo credit: The Hindu


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