Mangaluru: As the fumes of resentment engulf the district Congress over the appointment of Vijaynath Vital Shetty as the president of VHP’ Hindu convention committee, Vittal reacted the Congress has failed to support his ideas and he would not mind going with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), if the party accommodates his wishes.
Entrepreneur Vittal Shetty, joined the Congress on Dec 16, 2012, in the presence top Congress leaders from the district. Within two years as a member of Congress he has become a known face of the Congress.
In his brief conversation with Newskarnataka.com he obliquely said that he might embrace the BJP, as his current party has not lived up to his expectations. “I had requested the party leadership to allot 20 crores to renovate the Mangaluru Town Hall but the party did not heed my request”. He also advised the party to hire the best architect to give a face lift to the town hall. He blamed Abhayachandra Jain, Minister of State for Fisheries, Sports and Youth Services for not giving a contract to construct a fish market in the city.
His disenchantment with the Congress assumes political implications as he is at present actively seen organizing the BJP backed VHP’s Hindu Samajotsava. He confirmed his prime priority would be the Hindu religion and not the Congress. However he expressed his respect for former union minister Oscar Fernandez, who was the only reason for Shetty to remain in the party despite several unsatisfactory moments.
“I have not asked for any party post. My plea with the party was only to facilitate my hobbies of constructing buildings and rendering social work”. The party, for over a period of two years did not concede to his requests, due to which he was miffed. He would prefer a party that respects his ideas and passion to work. He hit out at the Congress, claiming party leaders were resorting to cheap politics.
The leaders hailing from his own, Bunt community were thwarting him from climbing the political ladder, he said. When asked about who were the leaders from the community, he pointed fingers at district-in-charge minister Ramanath Rai. “Rai is working against me.” The Minister appears to be unwilling to see me growing”, he reiterated.
