Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)

Mangaluru, Apr 21: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah will lay the foundation stone for the new Congress Bhavan at Mallikatta on Friday April 24 at 4 pm, informed interim district Congress president Ibrahim Kodijal.

Addressing a press meet at the district Congress office here on Tuesday April 21, Kodijal said, "Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah will lay the foundation for the new Congress Bhavan, while Dr G Parmeshwar, president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) will preside over the function.

"Former union minister M Veerappa Moily, Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, revenue minister Srinivas Prasad, minister for health and family welfare U T Khadar, minister for youth services and sports Abhaychandra Jain, urban development minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, senior Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary, MLC Ivan D'Souza, MLAs J R Lobo, Mohiuddin Bava, Vasanth Bangera, Shakunthala Shetty and mayor Jacintha Alfred will be the chief guests," he added.

"A warm welcome is extended to all from the district incharge minister B Ramanath Rai. As he is busy with another programme I was informed to organize the press meet. This was a long-cherished dream of Ramanath Rai and we are hopeful that the construction will complete within a year," he said.

"Congress Bhavan will come up on 9 cents of government land. The Bhavan will have a ground floor, first and second floors, spread across 9,351 sq ft of space. The estimated cost is yet to be given by the engineers, and we are not availing any grants from the state government. The Bhavan will come up in Mallikatta between Kadri Market and Lions Club building. The building will have office rooms, press conference room and also chambers for all the block presidents of the district. All are requested to come and make the event a success," Kodijal said.

Former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred and others were present.