You promised, but betrayed me on Gundlupet, says Geetha Mahadevprasad to BSY

Mysuru: Congress candidate Geetha Mahadevprasad, who turned emotional and broke down during an interaction with the media on Tuesday, charged state BJP unit president B.S. Yeddyurappa with betrayal after promising her an uncontested election during next month's bypoll in Gundlupet Assembly constituency.

She told the media at Gundlupet: “Mr Yeddyurappa had placed his hand on my head and promised to ensure my unanimous election, but today he and other BJP leaders are making statements against me. I am hurt. I condemn this. I decided to contest after leaders such as Mr Yeddyurappa instilled courage in me. I am contesting the byelection after securing the blessings of Suttur math seer. Some BJP leaders are making insulting statements. Is this how you respect women? I will never stoop to such levels.”

Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, too, charged Mr Yeddyurappa with betrayal. “The Suttur math seer must intervene when the daughter of the math is hurt (by statements of BJP leaders),” he added. Mr Yeddyurappa, however, dismissed Mrs Geetha Mahadevprasad’s statements as “false and unfortunate.”

The former CM said: “I met Mrs Geetha Mahadevprasad only once when Mr Mahadevprasad passed away. I visited their residence to offer condolences to her and her kin. I did not make any promise nor did I assure her that I will not field a candidate for the seat. Her statements are extremely unfortunate and regrettable. My respect for Mrs Geetha Mahadevprasad remains intact. She should not resort to spreading falsehood. I am not a betrayer. The Suttur math seer blesses every one. I took Mr Niranjan Kumar too to the seer. Does that mean we had gone there to ensure that we get votes? One should not speak about the Suttur math seer in such a manner.”