'We aren't wooing voters through corrupt means'

Prominent MLC candidates vouch for fair practices in election

While wooing voters with allurements is not uncommon during elections, candidates of four prominent parties in the fray for the election to the State Legislative Council from Mysuru-Chamarajanagar local bo- dies constituency, on Wedn- esday, vouched that they were not indulging in any corrupt practices to emerge victorious in the poll.

Reacting to a particular query from media persons, Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha president and former MLA Vatal Nagaraj, who is also contesting the poll, scheduled to be held on December 27, was the first to declare, “I neither have money nor seek votes through any other means”.

Sitting MLC from Janata Dal (Secular) Sandesh Nagaraju, who is seeking re-election, claimed, “I have not given anything, but don’t know if anybody else has given...”.

Another sitting MLC from Congress, R Dharmasena, who is also seeking re-election asserted, “I have been following the instructions of party higher-ups”.

R Raghu, the BJP’s nominee, said “I neither have support from those in power, nor monetary resources.”

Participating in an interaction, organised by the Mysore District Journalists Association (MDJA), S Nagaraju (Sandesh) denied the allegations that he had not visited most of the Gram Panchayats during his tenure.

He exuded confidence that, unlike in previous elections, he would be able to garner most votes from Chamarajanagar district too this time.

Dharmasena, who claimed to be lucky to be associated with the Congress party, said, “If elected again, I will raise the grievances of every GP member on the floor of the house.”

Raghu said, “I have met close to 6,500 voters of the total 7,000 odd voters in the constituency, besides visiting 350 local bodies just to understand the woes of the region. The good deeds of B S Yeddyurappa as chief minister then, by ensuring 50 per cent reservation for women in local bodies, is really commendable.” Vatal Nagaraj said, “A representative with a calibre like me should be surely elected, as it is the feeling of most other leaders, irrespective of party”.