Former Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty expressed confidence that he will win with a margin of more number of votes in comparison to the margin of votes that attested his previous victories. He ruled out possibilities of pre-poll alliances.
Speaking to media persons, he said that he might give a second thought towards supporting any political party from outside after the results and during the phase of formation of the government by any party. His decision to contest as an independent candidate came out as a result of tremendous pressure from his supporters and followers.
Retorting to a query over his decision to return to BJP, he said he feels that he is writing an exam on May 5 and the result will be out on May 8. Later he will decide over the employment that he would opt for.
Stating that a government should be stable and strong, the former MLA said the government should be stable enough to offer secured governance. He said he was offended by the behavior of the BJP leaders who insulted him by calling him to Bangalore and not offering him the ministerial post. He stressed that he did not aspire to become a minister, rather it was the betrayal that made him to resign from the primary membership of the BJP.
“I was let down. I never begged for the minister’s post. I would have stuck to my earlier decision on remaining neutral had I not been offended. It is matter of self respect. At one point of time, I just wanted to lead a normal life by keeping myself faraway from politics. However, my followers pressure has compelled me to change my decision of staying aloof,” he added.
Asserting that he is not into caste and community politics, Haladi said he is totally against the caste politics. He categorically stated that he will seek votes based only on the credibility of his belief in the notion of social justice and his service to the society.
He said he has worked for the social cause. He has also fought for the justice supporting the victims of coal based Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) thermal project and Bramavara Sugar factory. Reassuring his commitment to the poor and the needy, the former Kundapur MLA said if he wins back his seat, he will concentrate more on the issues like CRZ norms affecting people, especially the fishermen in the coastal area, the problem concerning deemed forest and allocation of lands by the government to penniless. The amount of land that was assured earlier to poor was around five cents, however the same has been reduced to 2.5 cents. "I said he will fight against it," he assured.
Coming down heavily on media over unjustified allegations like he never raised any question in the Assembly, he said the media accusations are all untrue. “I can produce substantial evidences over my concern for the people in my constituency that emerged out in the form of questions in the Assembly. He ridiculed media that it is into groundless predictions over his impending plan on joining Congress or BJP.
He said, “It is not possible to approach every single voter as Kundapur is large constituency with nearly 1.80 lakh voters. There are many villages. I will try to reach out to them by postal campaigning. I will not have any poll manifesto. I will seek votes assuring the voters that I will be a catalyst between them and government. I will sincerely distribute the funds released by the government under various schemes to the beneficiaries concerned. I am yet to choose a symbol for my candidature. I would prefer an easily identifiable symbol that voters could associate themselves with”.
He added that “some of the GP, TP and ZP members belonging to BJP have extended their support to me. However, I have not asked for it. I am ignorant over BJPs action against them," he added.
