Mangaluru: Denying allegations that he finalized the Congress candidate for Udupi-Dakshina Kannada constituency of the Legislative Council, former Union minister Oscar Fernandes said Pratapchandra Shetty, MLC was chosen based on suggestions and recommendations of party workers and leaders.
The decision to give Pratapchandra Shetty another term sparked rebellion within the local unit with former minister Jayaprakash Hegde and senior Congress leader Harikrishna Bantwal remaining in the fray as rebel candidates. Supporters of these rebel candidates blamed Mr Oscar Fernandes for picking Mr Pratapchandra Shetty.
Mr Oscar Fernandes told Deccan Chronicle: “It is true that party workers gave me the responsibility of finalising the name of the candidate, but I recommended the name of Mr Pratapchandra Shetty based on suggestions and recommendations of party workers and leaders (majority of the MLAs and block presidents). It was not my personal decision. The candidate is finalised by the highcommand along with Chief Minister, PCC president and AICC general secretary.”
Expressing confidence about the victory of Mr Shetty, he said: “In our state, the election is based on party lines and I am confident that our party members will vote for our candidate. Local body members who are voters in this election are elected based on party lines (though without symbol). When they are elected on party lines naturally they vote for the party candidate. However I agree that the party has to work hard to keep the flock together. We are always in touch with our voters always.”
When asked if he felt sorry for bringing Mr Jayaprakash Hegde to Congress, he said he had no such regrets.
“People have their own ambition and there is nothing wrong if anybody aspires to be something. There were 19 aspirants for one seat and all were equally eligible. However, the party can field only one candidate. Most of these aspirants are working with the party candidate,” he added.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
