Hunsur: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member of parliament cast his decisive vote to topple mighty Congress in the Hunsur City Municipal Council elections on January 19.
MP Pratap Simha arrived from Kushtagi, when both Congress and JDS were tied at 14 each and cast his vital vote, to tilt the balance in JDS’ favour. H D Revanna’s son Prajwal and veteran leader H Vishwantah struck an understanding to regain power in the CMC, considered by many a “clever ploy.” Through their political strategy, the duo not only ensured JDS rose in strength from 9 to 15 but also succeeded in showing the door to the mighty Congress, despite its 13-member strength excluding the local MLA.
The sudden shift in stance by MP Pratap Simha to support JDS is to avenge the humiliation meted to him by the district administration during recent Hanuma Jayanthi celebrations. Emerging after the victory of JDS nominee, a beaming Pratap Simha touched senior JDS leader Vishwanath’s feet and termed the act as part of “sangh culture.”
BJP has tie-up with JDS in Mysore City Corporation (MCC) Council and several other taluk panchayats (TP) and continues to hold deputy mayor’s post in few councils in addition to president’s post in few TPs, said Pratap Simha, justifying his decision. The defection in the Hunsur City Council has been rampant in the last 2 and a 1/2 years, due to which, elections for the top post in CMC was held twice in the last 1 and a 1/2 years, said Pratap Simha.
“Both candidates Shivakumar and Saurabha Siddaraju belong to Congress with the former backed by JDS. The Congress fraction posed innumerable problems to BJP and its partymen during Hanuma Jayanthi celebrations. In order to teach a lesson to Congressmen, I drove from Kushtagi to cast my vote in favour of JDS-supported candidate”, an elated Simha said.
He urged the partymen not to give him undue credit for the victory, instead asked the cheering supporters to praise Modi. Recollecting his days as journalist, where he penned a series of articles on Modi’s biography in a renowned state daily from June 19, 2004, Pratap Simha said, PM Modi and the daily editor Vishweshawra Bhat would forever remain his political mentors.
He asked the large gathering of supporters to spread the word on Hanuma Jayanthi celebrations planned on January 27 at the same time. Pratap Simha took to Twitter to explain more on his achievement in his won words.
