Media Release

Udupi, Jul 3: A delegation of the Catholic Sabha of the Udupi and Mangalore regions met newly appointed chief minister D K Shivakumar in Bengaluru and congratulated him on behalf of the Christian community of the district.

On the occasion, the delegation submitted a memorandum requesting that Legislative Council member Ivan D'Souza be inducted into the State Cabinet.

The memorandum stated that Ivan D'Souza, who represents the Christian community of the coastal region, has served two terms as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council and has held responsibilities as the Council chief whip and in the Christian Development Corporation. It also highlighted that the Christian community made a significant contribution to the Congress party's victory by extending its support in the Assembly elections across 22 districts of Karnataka.

The delegation pointed out that the Christian community has often been overlooked while appointments are made to important positions. They urged the chief minister to ensure equal representation for all communities by appointing Ivan D'Souza either as a cabinet minister or as the chairman of the Legislative Council. They added that giving him a ministerial berth would strengthen the party in the days ahead and requested the chief minister, as the party president, to ensure justice to the Christian community.

The delegation included Catholic Sabha Mangalore Region president Santosh D'Souza, vice-president Steven Rodrigues, Sunil Monis, former president Stany Lobo, Udupi Region president Melvin Aranha Shirva, Kundapur Zonal president Shaila Almeida, Karkala president Antony Miranda, Udupi president Kiran Lewis, Kundapur Planning Authority president Vinod Crasto, and others.