Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)
Mangaluru, Sep 16: Former Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee president K Harish Kumar on Wednesday thanked party workers, leaders and media representatives for their support during his nine-year tenure as district president.
Addressing a press conference at the District Congress Bhavan in Mallikatte, Harish Kumar said the organisational work could not have been accomplished by him alone and credited block Congress presidents, KPCC members, unit leaders and party workers for their cooperation.
He said the All-India Congress Committee (AICC) had appointed senior Congress leader and former Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha candidate Padmaraj R Poojary as the new district Congress president. Poojary's appointment was part of the organisational exercise undertaken by the AICC.
Harish Kumar said the new president had been actively involved in social, religious and political activities and had maintained contact with party workers across the district. He also highlighted Poojary's work through the Guru Beladingalu Foundation in the education and healthcare sectors.
He said Poojary was scheduled to assume charge, but the programme had been postponed as he had to attend a meeting of newly appointed district presidents at the KPCC. Harish Kumar said the charge-taking ceremony would be held after his return.
Speaking about the party's electoral preparations, Harish Kumar said the Congress currently has two MLAs from Dakshina Kannada's eight Assembly constituencies and that the party would work towards strengthening its organisation across all constituencies. He also said preparations would be required for the upcoming local body elections.
Harish Kumar also spoke about the Karnataka cabinet meeting scheduled to be held in Mangaluru on September 18. The meeting will focus on proposals and development issues concerning the coastal region.
He said several demands concerning Dakshina Kannada are expected to be raised, including official recognition for Tulu, measures for the fisheries and tourism sectors, development of the plastic park and IT park, and policy support for agriculture and related industries.
He also referred to the long-standing demand to name Mangaluru airport after Koti and Chennaya and said the party would seek to have the proposal considered again.
Harish Kumar said Dakshina Kannada has considerable potential in fisheries, agriculture, horticulture, healthcare, education, banking and tourism, and stressed the need for comprehensive development of the district.
He also referred to the proposed development of tourism in the coastal region and said the upcoming Cabinet meeting could provide an opportunity to discuss several long-pending issues. The state government has directed departments to prepare proposals concerning coastal Karnataka ahead of the September 18 meeting.
Harish Kumar criticised the alleged use of central investigative agencies against opposition leaders and questioned the actions of agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He alleged that central agencies were being used to target political opponents and demanded that allegations be established through due legal process.
He also criticised the Centre over issues including tax devolution and funding arrangements for states, and alleged that Karnataka was not receiving its due share of central taxes.
He further condemned the reported incident involving the purification of a stage after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's public appearance and criticised the subsequent handling of the matter.
Recalling his nine-year tenure, Harish Kumar said he had worked under several KPCC presidents and received the support of senior Congress leaders and party workers.
He expressed special gratitude to members of the media for their cooperation over the years.
"This may be my last press conference as the district party president, but we will continue to interact in various capacities," he said, adding that he looked forward to the continued cooperation of the media in the future.
Harish Kumar said all district leaders would extend their cooperation to Padmaraj Poojary and work collectively to strengthen the Congress organisation in Dakshina Kannada.