It's official! MG Hegde bids goodbye to Congress

Addressing the media persons here on Wednesday, Mr Hegde said he is quitting the party following 'continued disregard for his experience and talent'

The former Jana Sangh activist has been one of the famous public faces of the Congress party in the district and an important orator at the party's public functions.

Mr Hegde held 'the entire system in the district congress party' responsible for his extreme decision and said he was firm in his stand and there was no question of backing out, even if he was offered the post of General Secretary in KPCC.

“I have been continuously sidelined in the party though I was a loyal party worker since 15 years. I am just used as a speaker whenever there is a requirement and the party leaders have underestimated my capacity,” he said.

It is not the BJP which defeats the Congress in the district but the Congress leaders themselves are responsible for the poor performance of the party in the consecutive elections, he said and added “The leaders engage in defeating their candidates playing the role of opposition party during the elections.”

Stepping up his attack on the veteran congress leaders, without naming anyone particularly, he said failure of the leadership is the main reason for diminishing popularity of the Congress party in Dakshina Kannada.

Though Mr Hegde ruled out joining any party immediately, he said his friends and well-wishers in other parties have invited him to their parties.

Shashiraj Shetty, who also decided to quit the party, held veteran congress leaders Veerappa Moily, Oscar Fernandes and Janardana Poojary responsible for the present situation of the party in the district. Interestingly, SA Majeed, Joint Convener of KPCC, Minority Department was present at the press meet.

Earlier in a letter to the KPCC President G Parameshwar, Hegde had recommended a number of solutions such as collective work, unconditional dedication of time by District President, decentralization of power, strengthening the party at grass root level, united struggle to eradicate 'Saffron' ideology etc.

Voyage

Mr Hegde was attracted by the ideology of RSS during his college days and was an active Swayamsewak. But due to differences with the party he associated himself with Balraj Madhok, who had come to Mangalore as a rebel leader.

RSS had disassociated itself with Mr Madhok and had also objected to Pejawar seer's participation in his programme.

This was the last nail in the coffin and Hegde left Sangha and subsequently joined Hindu Yuva Sena founded by Gunakar Shetty.

Since joining Congress in 1996, he made a number of political enemies both within and outside the party. Though Congress came to power both at the state and centre, Mr Hegde was left to languish without his talents adequately being compensated.