Mangaluru, Dec 9: Harikrishna Bantwal, one of the confidantes of veteran Congress leader B Janardhana Poojary, on Wednesday filed his nomination papers for the ensuing Legislative Council polls from Dakshina Kannada-Udupi local bodies constituency as an independent candidate.
Speaking to reporters after submitting papers to Deputy Commissioner AB Ibrahim in the latter’s office, Mr Bantwal said that he went against the advice of his mentor Mr Poojary, who had asked him to not to go against the candidate finalised by the high command even if it was a wrong choice.
He said he is voicing the sentiments of thousands of party workers who have built the party over the years. “There is no question of withdrawal and I have set the horse in motion for the Ashwamedha,” he declared.
Mr Bantwal is the third Congress leader from coastal Karnataka to file nomination as independent candidate for MLC polls opposing the re-nomination of K Pratapchandra Shetty for the third term, even after he was reluctant to contest.
Soon after Pratapchandra Shetty filed nomination on Monday, former MP K Jayaprakash Hegde and B. Bhujanga Shetty, both from Udupi district, had filed their papers.
All three have also made it clear that they would withdraw their candidature if the Congress party gives ticket to a better, eligible and active candidate instead of Mr Pratapchandra Shetty.
Mr Bantwal said that sitting MLC Mr Shetty had been a leaders’ representative and not workers representative. In his 12 years’ stint as an MLC, he did not visit a single gram panchayat or local body in Dakshina Kannada, including 164 ordinary meetings of Mangaluru City Corporation, whose members were his voters, he alleged.
Earlier Mr Bantwal said: “I have not made any money out of public life and have enough personal resources to sustain livelihood. I also do not know to please the leaders and was under the belief that the party would recognise my leadership qualities. However, my beliefs stand shattered with Mr. Shetty’s selection.”
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