JOIN US Former minister and Congress leader Kumar Bangarappa, who was disappointed over the denial of ticket to him to contest the coming Lok Sabha elections, said he would campaign for the Congress in Shimoga.
Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, he admitted that he had tried to impress upon the party leaders to issue him a ticket from Shimoga.
“It was my right to fight for a ticket. However, the party was reluctant to change the candidate. Following pressure from the State Congress leaders, I have decided to campaign for the Congress from April 6 in the constituency. There is no change in my stand. We will try our best to win the Shimoga seat.
The Congress was founded by Mahatma Gandhi and it’s our duty to work for it,” said Kumar Bangarappa. He appealed to the Idiga community to back the Congress in the polls, as it is the only party that has been protecting the interests of the oppressed class for the past several years.
“Ignore caste, but vote for the Congress without fail considering the achievements of the UPA government and the Siddaramaiah government,” he said.
Referring to Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik’s statement that he was also part of the demolition of the Babri Masjid and that he would demolish mosques in Mathura and Kashi in the future, he said the Election Commission should initiate suo motu action against him. “He is engaged in disturbing the communal harmony. A complaint will be lodged with the Election Commission in this regard,” he said.
For the smooth conduct of elections, the commission should arrest him and release him after the polls, he said.