Udupi: “I have been defeated in the ZP elections because of Jayaprakash Hegde’s followers, but have not said that if Jayaprakash Hegde was in the party I would have won the elections” said Mallika Balakrishna Poojary congress candidate of Brahmavar Zilla Panchyat constituency. She was addressing the mediapersons at a press meet held at the Press Club here on February 26.
She further said, “I had approached Bhujanga Shetty former ZP president during the ZP polls but he denied any support. We could have retained 3 ZP constituencies if our leaders would have taken effective initiatives. Various media have carried reports that I have given a statement about Congress leaders and workers that they were responsible for my defeat which is far from truth; I deny that I have given any such statement”.
The delay in announcing candidates, poor co-operation from lost candidates of the gram panchayat elections, poor response from voters, sand mining and other factors are responsible for the defeat, she added.
Blakrishna Poojary, Nithyanada BR, Vittal Poojary, Deva Nayak and others were present.