Mangaluru (Karnataka): The JD(S) candidate from Mangaluru Altaf Kumpala who withdrew his nomination on Friday alleged on Monday that he was kidnapped by supporters of the local Congress candidate who forced him to withdraw his nomination.
Speaking to reporters Kampala said that on Friday after filing his nomination, he was leaving after prayers when two supporters of the Congress candidate-UT Khader-Mustafa and Usman dragged him into their car and then forced him to sign the withdrawal form and made him submit it to the concerned officer. He made it clear that he did not withdraw the nomination papers of his own volition but was forced to do so.
He further alleged that soon after he filed his nomination as the JD(S) candidate from Mangaluru a group of miscreants came to his house and threatened his family members. " I also received threatening calls on my mobile and similar text messages on WhatsApp," he added.
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Kumpala said that he has lodged a complaint to the election officials in this regard adding that he has requested them to allow him to contest the election. "If I get a chance, I will contest the elections," said Kumpala.
Initially, JD(S) had decided not to field a candidate in the Mangaluru constituency but later changed their mind and gave a ticket to Kumpala. The Congress leadership denied the allegation.
While sitting MLA UT Khader is contesting as a Congress candidate from the Mangaluru Assembly constituency, Satish Kumpala is contesting as a BJP candidate and Riyaz Farangipet is in the fray as an SDPI candidate.
