Mangaluru: Former BJP Mangaluru South President and Hindutva leader Shrikar Prabhu, who is contesting the elections as an independent candidate this time due to differences with the party, has opened his election campaign office at Kadri – Bunts Hostel road here on April 14.
K P Shetty, President of Shrikar Prabhu Abhimani Balaga, an association that is overseeing the election campaign for Prabhu, inaugurated the campaign office by lighting the lamp. In his inaugural address, K P Shetty recalled his association with Shrikar Prabhu as a ward level member of BJP and said that it was difficult to find such a dedicated and passionate leader. He further added that ditching Prabhu was a real loss for the BJP and not the other way around. “We are agonised at the decision of the BJP, and therefore, we have convinced Prabhu to contest this election as an independent candidate. We will make sure that he wins this election with a huge margin”, he promised.
Shetty praised the “good character” of Prabhu and said, “We need a honest and people-friendly MLA and only Shrikar Prabhu can fill this void. He has a good vision for Mangaluru. Only he can develop Mangaluru as the best city in Karnataka.”
Shrikar Prabhu Abhimani Balaga leaders Suresh Kumar and Bhasker Gatty also spoke on the occasion and assured their support to Prabhu.
Another well-wisher Dinkar Shanbaug said that a person, who worked 18 hours a day for 33 years with the Sangh, dedicated his whole life for Hindutva and worked from a common volunteer to organising major events for the party, had been neglected. He said that expelling Prabhu from BJP was an insult, not just to Prabhu, but to all the voters of the constituency. “We will make sure that he wins the election and give a befitting answer”, he assured.
Thanking everyone for their overwhelming support, Shrikar Prabhu, in his speech, said, “I will be contesting these elections on the principle of great leaders of India. Today morals have declined in party politics, where people keep changing sides as and when they please. I am still with the BJP and will remain so. Party is built on a philosophy. Though I am contesting as an independent, I will still follow the philosophy of the BJP till the end. I don’t blame their decision but want to reform the party from within.”
