Mysuru: Former minister and senior Dalit leader V Srinivasa Prasad announced his retirement from electoral politics and added that he will take a decision to quit active politics in few days time. With the retirement from electoral politics, he closed the possibility of contesting polls from Nanjangud assembly constituency in the forthcoming assembly election.
Speaking during his book release function “Swabimana Rajakaranada Hinnale Nanjangudu Vidhansabha Upachunavane-Vishleshane” which maps his experience in the Nanjangud by-polls, which he lost in April last year, at Kalamandir here on Wednesday he said, “In my 45 years of politics I did not have any worries or got upset but, the by-election results in Nanjangud disturbed me a lot. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah misused the government machinery and spent a lot of money in the election which enabled them to register victory narrowly. When we brought Siddaramaiah to the Congress we thought coming from backward community he will do good work but I was shocked to see the way he went all out to defeat me in the election. It was a total misuse of power”.
Former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde released the book.
“From my entry into politics in 1974, I had no allegations or remarks against me. Despite that I was unceremoniously removed from the Siddaramaiah cabinet. This pained me a lot. I was replaced by Priyanka Kharge. I quit the Congress,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Hegde said that he held Srinivas Prasad in high regard because he is one of the honest politicians.
“Srinivas Prasad is one among few ministers who didn’t figure in any scams. Though he has announced retirement from electoral politics he should continue as active politician and those who want to get into politics should do some internship under him. After going through his book I came to know he has written it after lot of pain and those who were close to him back stabbed him. In page 107 he had mentioned about money misuse. If he had given evidence, serious thought would have been given” said Santosh Hegde .
“Earlier the government was for the people and by the people but now the government has become for some people,” lamented Santosh Hegde. GT Devegowda who was also present requested Srinivas Prasad to continue in politics.
