Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha has stirred up a controversy saying that DR. Geetha Mahadevaprasad, wife of late Minister H.S. Mahadevaprasad was contesting the election only for the sake of power.

The MP, speaking to media this  morning, said that his statement was unintentional and he would withdraw it if it had hurt Geetha Mahadevaprasad.

Campaigning for Gundlupet by-poll BJP candidate C.S. Niranjan Kumar at Bannitalapura in the taluk yesterday, Pratap Simha alleged that Geetha Mahadevaprasad dreamt of power soon after performing ‘Haalu-Tuppa’ ritual of her late husband. Maintaining that Geetha Mahadevaprasad had enjoyed all powers while her husband Mahadevaprasad was a Minister, Simha claimed that Dr. Geetha herself had said that she was contesting the election for the sake of retaining the red-light car.

He further said that casting a vote in favour of Dr. Geetha meant that there would be no development in Gundlupet and appealed the electorate to vote for BJP candidate Niranjan Kumar.

Soon as Simha’s remarks raised eyebrows in political circles, the MP issued a clarification that he had not spoken lightly of Gundlupet Congress candidate Geetha Mahadevaprasad.

Speaking to a private TV channel, Simha said he had only quoted Geetha Mahadevaprasad’s statement that she was seeking sympathy votes after having lost her Minister husband Mahadevaprasad. Her statement itself shows that she was after power. Instead of using the word ‘For the sake of power’, I have used the word ‘Red light car’ and the statement must not be misconstrued’, Simha said.