MYSORE: Congress candidate Adagooru H Vishwanath, the sitting MP from Mysore, on Friday filed his nomination papers, seeking re-election. He made it known that secularism will be his poll plank.
A day after BJP candidate Prathap Simha filed his papers and accused the Congress-led UPA government of going soft on Pakistan, which he accused of inciting tension by beheading two Indian soldiers, Vishwanath said: “This election, the fight is between secular forces and communal elements. The world is looking at India to know who will triumph.”
Addressing party workers the Balarama Gate of the Mysore Palace before filing his papers, Vishwanath said that he will seek support from the electorate to protect the secular fabric of the nation, which, he said, is crucial for the nation’s growth. The Congress candidate took former minister Tanveer Sait, the MLA representing minorities-dominated Narasimharaja constituency, with him filing his papers to returning officer C Shikha. District minister V Srinivas Prasad and Mysore rural district Congress committee chief R Dharmasena and Kodagu district Congress committee president B T Pradeep were also with the MP.
The sitting MP visited various religious institutions and met religious leaders before he filed his papers. He visited Chamundi Hills, where he offered special puja to goddess Chamundeshwari, and Avadhoota Datta Peetam, where he met Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swami. He also called on Somanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Sir Khazi of Mysore Moulana Mohammed Usman Shariff and Bishop of Mysore Rev Fr Thomas A Vazhapilly.
Accusing the BJP candidate of inciting communal tension, Vishwanath told reporters: “He has made hate speech, which is not good for anybody. I appeal to my opponents and opposition parties not to try and vitiate communal harmony. Let us fight with mutual respect for each other and promote peace in society.”
He claimed that Congressman C K Jaffer Sahrief will not quit the party and contest from Mysore as “claimed by three legislators from JD(S)”. I’m sure Sharief will not quit Congress,” he said.
The district minister said that Sharief is disappointed that he has not got the party ticket. “But that cannot be constructed to mean that he will leave the party,” he stated.
Shikha said that two independents – T N Kumarawamy from Mysore and Praveen M N from Doddamaranagowdanahalli – also filed papers on Friday.
