Srinivas Prasad announces his candidature from Ch'nagar

Former minister V Srinivas Prasad, on Monday, announced his candidature on a BJP ticket from Chamarajanagar (SC Reserved) Lok Sabha segment.

“I had decided to keep away from active politics, but owing to pressure from the party workers and followers, I am contesting,” he said.

Prasad was elected five times from Chamarajanagar Lok Sabha segment and served as Minister for Food and Consumer Affairs in Atal Behari Vajpayee Cabinet. He was also elected as MLA twice and served as Revenue Minister in Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet.

Noting that Congress party had become weak, Prasad said, for the first time, the national party had joined hands with other parties to defeat the BJP. “There is a Modi wave in the country and the BJP will be re-elected,” he said.

Blaming former chief minister Siddaramaiah for the sorry state of affairs in the state and in the Congress, Prasad said, “He (Siddaramaiah) insulted me by dropping me from his Cabinet. The people have already taught him a lesson. But, his arrogance has not reduced,” Prasad said. Congress candidate R Dhruvanarayan was once Prasad’s supporter.