Choose Late minister's wife for gundlupet: B Janardhan Poojary

Mangaluru: Senior Congress leader, B Janardhan Poojary believes Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should field either the wife or son of late minister, H S Mahadev Prasad in the by- election for the Gundulpet Assembly seat that has fallen vacant following his death.

"Mahadev Prasad did a lot of developmental work in his constituency and was well liked. The CM saw for himself the support he enjoyed at his cremation. If our party fields anyone other than Prasad's wife or son, we will lose," Mr Poojary warned,  adding caustically, "I know the CM will not listen to my advice. But  I am saying this for his own welfare. If we are defeated, it will be the end of politics for him."

The veteran leader claimed there was talk  that the Chief Minister could field his close aide, PWD minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa's son from Gundlupet.

Mr Poojary said he would not campaign for the Congress either in the Nanjangud or Gundlupet byelections as Mr Siddaramaiah was suspicious of him.    "Having heard  my recent statements the Chief Minister has no faith in me.  If I now campaign and the party loses the byelections, they will blame me," he maintained, however, adding that  he would pitch in  if the  party high command wanted him to.

Taking on Mr Siddaramaiah on the special flight he took to attend businessman, BR Shetty's son's wedding, he asked pointedly, " Did Shetty sponsor the flight? If he did it would amount to corruption. Let the CM come in a bus for such weddings."  

The veteran made no bones about his anger at Home Minister, G Parameshwar's statement on molestation of girls in Bengaluru. "It is really sad. I wanted him to be  Chief Minister but now I regret backing him," he declared.