Udupi, Dec 31, 2015: Former MP Jayaprakash Hegde who had contested as an independent in the MLC election has attributed his defeat to the Congress act of "luring voters with money."
Speaking to reporters here on December 31, Thursday, Hegde while admitting that the defeat had pained him, added that he had the satisfaction of getting at least minimum votes that proved the support he enjoyed from members of local bodies. Continuing, he said he would have definitely won the election had the party workers and public had a chance to vote.
Hegde said along with party workers, he would continue to work for the welfare of the people even in the future.
He further charged the Congress of not only resorting to threatening and pressure tactics but also of misusing the religious sentiments of the voters.
Claiming that there was difference of opinion in the Congress even prior to the election, Hegde said though he had tried to apprise the Chief Minister as well as Oscar Fernandes in this regard, it was a futile exercise.
At the same time he attributed the Congress defeat in Chikkamagaluru to the presence of a large number of his supporters there.
Hegde also hoped that the victorious Congress candidate Pratapchandra Shetty would work towards the development of panchayats and local administrative bodies.
When scribes wanted to know if he had any plan to join JD(S), Hegde said he would decide about his future course of action after holding discussions with his supporters.
Harish Shetty Cherkady, Birthi Rajesh Shetty and others were present.