Mangalore: Will uphold communal harmony in city - Upbeat Poojary
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (DV)
Mangalore, Mar 10: "People have blessed Congress party in the entire Dakshina Kannada district. The party has succeeded in establishing its rule in the urban local body elections. All leaders and party workers have together worked hard for this victory and are celebrating today," said former union minister and Congress leader Janardhan Poojary.
Addressing a press meet here on Monday March 11 after the announcement of ULB election results, he said, "Prior to the elections we had assured people that we would give good administration. We will keep our word and try to fulfil our promises."
"I was incharge of the party elections in Dakshina Kannada. We Congress leaders travelled all over the taluk along with party workers, worked enthusiastically and won the hearts of the people. Our efforts have borne fruits and enabled Congress to be the top party in the state," he said.
Lambasting the BJP over cases of communal disturbance and moral policing in coastal region over the years, Poojary said, "In coastal area Congress will uphold communal harmony and peace. BJP government has deceived 6 crore people of the state, and has allowed violence against women. Hence the people blessed Congress instead of BJP. I request everyone to support Congress in the forthcoming Assembly elections too."
"Party leaders, political analysts and media had predicted that Congress would win 35 seats - their prediction has come true as this is what Congress has won. In Mangalore south which is the constituency of sitting MLA of BJP, Congress has won 28 seats while BJP could manage only 10. Even in Mangalore north, out of the 22 seats, BJP has won only 10, and remaining all have gone to Congress," he said.
"In the forthcoming state Assembly elections we will win all 8 constituencies. We will work together and bring Congress to power in the state. We will call all the winning candidates and ask them to take an oath to serve the people; and to respond to the problems of the people and immediately resolve them," he added.
"As we had assured prior to the elections, we will not increase a single paise in property tax, self assessment tax, and water tax. By revising the CDP plan poor people will be allowed to build a house on 10 cents land, and for permission they need not go to MUDA as it can done in corporation itself. Even if the central Congress government increases the property tax, we will demand a withdrawal through KPCC and never allow the government to collect more tax," he assured.
Poojary also congratulated the media, deputy commissioner, police personnel and officers who ensured peaceful elections.
Answering queries from media persons on the party's plans, Poojary said, "We will form ward committees and study the problems of the people. We will also fight to bring the central government development funds directly to the state. Our prominence is welfare of needy people and women."
When asked to comment on former mayor Gulzar Banu's suprise loss to SDPI, he brushed aside the question saying that many prominent leaders have been defeated in elections in the past, and that "Failure is the stepping stone to success."
Ramanath Rai, Congress district president said, "Only in Sullia we could not win, rest in all places we have achieved good results. We will give administration with equal justice to all, without any discrimination. The Padayatra that we undertook had an impact on the results and help in rooting out the communal BJP. People have supported Congress as want communal harmony to prevail."
Kodijal Ibrahim, U T Khader, Ivan D’Souza, Moideen Bava, J R Lobo, P V Mohan, Denis D'Silva, Harikrishna Bantwal, T K Sudheer, Praveenchandra Alva, Rohan Monteiro, A C Bhandary, Mithun Rai, Suresh Ballal, Kripa Alva, Mamatha Gatti and many other prominent leaders were present on the occasion.
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