Althaf: Cong forced me to withdraw nomination

Mangaluru: JD(S) candidate Althaf Kumpala, who had filed nomination to contest against former minister UT Khader in Mangaluru constituency, has said that he was forced to withdraw his nomination papers due to threats by followers of the Congress candidate.
Althaf told reporters here on Monday that he was kidnapped by a few followers of the Congress candidate while returning after offering prayers at Ullal on April 21. “I was forced to sign the nomination withdrawal form and submit the same to the returning officer. I have not fallen prey to any inducement. I have submitted a complaint to the commissioner of police and sought police protection,” he added.
JD(S) state spokesperson MB Sadashiva said that their party candidate had submitted a petition to the returning officer to reconsider his nomination, but it has been rejected.
He said that the JD(S) candidate is mentally upset due to the series of incidents. “Is the Congress scared of the JD(S) candidate, who is very popular in the constituency? The incident is a black mark in the history of Dakshina Kannada,” Sadashiva said.
Meanwhile, the returning officer of the Mangaluru constituency has stated that there was no provision in rules to reconsider the nomination, which has already been withdrawn. “Althaf Kumpala had filed his nomination to contest from Mangaluru constituency on April 20. He withdrew his nomination at 3.35pm on April 21. He has made a request to be in the fray stating that the nomination was not withdrawn on his own will, but was forced to do so by the Congress supporters. His request to reconsider the nomination has been rejected since there is no such provision in the rules,” the officer stated.
When contacted, Congress candidate from Mangaluru constituency, U T Khader denied the allegations and said party block president Sadashiva Ullal will clarify the issue.
Sadashiva Ullal told reporters that JD(S) leaders have levelled false allegations. “The Congress workers have not forced JD(S) candidate to withdraw his nomination. Althaf withdrew his nomination on April 21 and JD (S) leaders are levelling allegations three days after the incident. He has withdrawn the nomination following the differences within the JD(S) in the constituency,” he added.