Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Mar 9: The failure of the ruling BJP to cling on to the post of the city mayor came in for some tongue-lashing at the hands of JD(S) leader, M G Hegde.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday March 8, Hegde said that the environment of dissidence that has seeped within the ranks of the BJP in the state assembly, has spread its tentacles to the city corporation here.

“BJP lost its face in the mayoral election because of the conspiracy hatched by a dissident group within that party. The versions given by deputy speaker of the assembly, Yogish Bhat, BJP leader, Monappa Bhandary, and other leaders about their defeat do not match with each other. BJP, which changed the comprehensive development plan thrice to the detriment or poor people, is adversely effected by their curses,” he analyzed.

He felt that BJP, which is in majority here, will not accept a Congress councilor as a mayor, and that because of this situation, the mayor will be helpless in taking her own decisions. He said Congress, which did not get popular mandate of the people, also has miserably failed to work as an effective opposition. As a result, the city corporation is running the risk of becoming paralyzed for a year, he said. He urged both the BJP and Congress to explain to the people how they plan to run the administration in such a situation.

He said he does not support the statement of independent councilor, Harish Kumar that JD(S), CPI, and Independents will together try to wrest the post of the opposition leader.

City corporator, Aziz Kudroli, who was present, said that the BJP did not have the courtesy to congratulate Gulzar Banu, when she got elected as mayor, and accused the party of showing disrespect to the post of the mayor by refusing to hand over the gown. “The behaviour of the corporation employees gives us a feeling that they are tilted towards BJP,” he said.