Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jan 9: Expressing confidence in party's candidates for the elections to the three Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs) of Udupi, Kundapur and Karkala, Udupi district BJP president Mattar Ratnakar Hegde said that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will definitely win a majority of seats in the polls which will be held on January 12.
Addressing mediapersons at the town BJP office in Kadiyali here on Wednesday, Hegde said, "There are 13 seats each in three APMCs of Udupi district. While candidates have been unanimously selected for a few APMCs, election would be held to decide the fate of the rest".
Urging voters to support BJP candidates, Hegde said, "If we come to power in the APMC elections, the party will support agricultural products and provide all facilities for the needy. There is confusion in the voters’ list. Most of the voters are not supposed to vote. The ruling government is using gimmicks to be victorious in the elections".
Hegde further said that Jagadeesh Shettar in his tenure as Chief Minister, had reserved Rs one crore and 10 acres of land at Brahmavar for the development works of the area. But the land is now divided and distributed through Housing Board, he alleged.
Hegde questioned former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake's stand on the formation of Kaup taluk. "Why is he fighting for and against whom? Is this a way of getting publicity or some kind of political gimmick? He should give clarification or else he should work with honesty. Sorake should stop demanding the government to announce Kaup as taluk and focus on getting basic offices like sub-registrar, Nada Kacheri, Tahashildar in Kaup," added Hegde.
"Sorake promised to get grants of Rs 400-500 crores for Kaup municipality, but only a small amount was released. He should put sincere efforts towards developmental works of Kaup," he said.
Hegde further alleged that sand mafia was rampant in the region with the accused not worried about the police department. The state government has to bring out a new policy on sand mining at the earliest, he demanded.
The government is not taking the Supreme Court's order to close down liquor shops on highways seriously. Instead of shutting down, new ones are being opened everywhere, alleged Hegde.
Naveen Kutyaru, Kulyadi Suresh Naik, Sandhya Ramesh, Shreesha Nayak, Hemanth, Baikady Suprasad Shetty and others were present.