Mangaluru : Senior Congress leader from Dakshina Kannada, Harikrishna Bantwal on Wednesday filed his nomination papers for the ensuing legislative council polls from Dakshina Kannada-Udupi local bodies constituency as an independent candidate.

Mr. Bantwal told reporters later that he is voicing the sentiments of thousands of party workers who have built the party over the years. “There is no question of withdrawal and I have set the horse in motion for the Ashwamedha,” he declared.

Congress is already facing rebellion in the coastal districts after prominent leaders K. Jayaprakash Hegde and B. Bhujanga Shetty, both from Udupi district filed their papers on Monday. All the three have opposed the renomiation of incumbent MLC K. Pratapchandra Shetty for the third term, even after he was reluctant to contest.