Expelled Congress leader Jayaprakash Hegde who contested as an independent candidate in the MLC polls, today said the Congress victory in Dakshina Kannada-Udupi constituency was a result of money power.
Speaking to reporters at Udupi, Hegde, a former MP, said he would have won if the party workers and public had a chance to vote.
Though the defeat had hurt him, Hegde said he was glad that he got the minimum votes that proved the support he enjoyed from members of local bodies. The Congress rebel candidate received 872 votes in the MLC polls while the other Congress rebel Harikrishna Bantwal got 127 votes.
The Congress candidate Pratapchandra Shetty and BJP nominee Kota Srinivasa Poojary retained their Legislative Council seats in the DK-Udupi constituency in the December 27 polls.
