Mangalore: High drama as JD(S), BJP object to Congress candidates' nominations

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (BG)

Mangalore, Feb 25: Tension prevailed in Mangalore City Corporation as the workers of JD(S) objected to the nomination of a Congress candidate, alleging the she had been dismissed from her government job earlier.

The nominee is Appilatha of ward no 59 (Jeppu). The JD(S) leaders claimed that she had been working as a government employee and that she had been dismissed from her job due to some reasons. As per rules, an individual who has been dismissed from a government job of any form is not eligible to contest for the elections.

Appi along with her supporters and Congress leaders like Ivan D’Souza, Vinay Raj, Ashraf and others gathered around the election officer in the presence of JD(S) leaders like M G Hegde, Shashiraj Shetty, Gopalkrishna Attavar and others. Verbal fights erupted between both the parties right in front of the election officer.

Finally, the election officer rejected the objection and let Appilatha contest the election.

Speaking to media persons, Ivan D’Souza said that members of the BJP and the JD(S) had made a pact and opposed the nomination of Congress candidate Appilatha.

"There are several other persons with the name Appilatha, and it is not clear if it is the same Appilatha who had been dismissed. Let them prove the allegations with proper proof and legal documents. The election officer has rejected the objection and let Appi contest, which itself is the first sign of victory for Congress," he said.

JD(S) leader M G Hegde said that Ivan D’Souza has alleged the BJP and the JD(S) have conspired and opposed Appilatha's nomination, but it is only the JD(S) alone that is objecting and not BJP. "Ivan has been fighting about the objection, wheras earlier he himself had objected the nomination of a BJP candidate for some reasons," he said.

"We are ready to prove the allegations under any circumstances, we will not let Appi contest," he asserted.

In yet another issue, BJP leaders objected the nomnation of Ganesh, the Congress contestant for ward 29 (Kambla), alleging that he owns a shop in an MCC-owned commercial complex and that he has failed to pay the rent from many months.

Fighting over this objection, Ivan D’Souza promised the election officer to pay off and clear all the dues. The election officer withheld the decision till Tuesday February 26 morning 11:30 am.

The BJP representatives have urged that Ganesh should not contest by any means even if the dues are cleared, for the reason that as per rules, he is under active contract with the MCC.

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