Miffed AICC member Shenoy to contest as Ind candidate from Udupi

Udupi: Despite efforts by senior Congress leaders to pacify him, AICC member P Amrit Shenoy has decided to stick to his decision to contest as an independent candidate from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency.

The decision of the coalition partners to field a JD(S) candidate from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency has annoyed many in the Congress camp. What upset them more was the decision to field Congress leader Pramod Madhwaraj as the JD(S) candidate.

AICC member Amrit Shenoy P decided to bring this unhappiness among workers to the notice of party leaders by contesting as an independent candidate. Despite senior leaders including KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao and AICC Secretary Sandeep Kumar trying to make him withdraw from the fray, Shenoy has decided to stick to his decision. “Party leaders have taken a wrong decision. My purpose it to send out a message that if the leaders take a decision without consulting  honest party workers, then many more Amrit Shenoys might raise their voice and go out of the party. Alerting leaders is my responsibility and I am doing it,” Shenoy told Deccan Chronicle.

Shenoy is busy campaigning in Udupi and Chikkamagalur districts and is receiving a good response from unhappy workers of the Congress and BJP and also a section of the public who would have opted for NOTA as they do not want to vote for BJP candidate Shobha Karandlaje or coalition candidate Pramod Madhwaraj.

Congress leaders agree that a section of party workers who do not want to cast their votes for JD(S) are likely to vote for Amrit. He is also likely to get the votes of unhappy BJP workers who were against Shobha Karandlaje's candidature.

“I am not worried about my future. If people want they can elect me in this election,”  said Shenoy who is banking on the support of friends and close associates who have already started a strong campaign.

Amrit who is contesting as an independent candidate has not resigned from the AICC membership nor has the party taken any step against him till now. "I wanted to resign. However people told me that I was doing this in the interests of the party and  advised me not to resign,” he added.

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