Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, May 21: Puttanna, JD(S) MLC and the former deputy speaker of the Legislative Council said that the achievements of four time winner to the SW graduates constituency D H Shankarmurthy and Capt Ganesh Karnik MLC, SW Teachers Constituency was nil and the claim of DHS of starting 186 colleges is false as it was during Kumarswamy’s stint as chief minister of the state for a period of 20 months that he permitted the opening of 186 colleges, 1, 465 high schools, 625 PU colleges, 6 medical colleges and 15 engineering among others colleges in the state.
He was addressing a press conference here on Monday May 21. He added major issues of teachers and graduates which was not addressed by the duo BJP candidates and said that voters are waiting for a change.
The pay commission in 2006 which recommended Rs 200 ex-gratia for primary teachers in towns and Rs 300 for teachers in rural places was extended to PU lecturers by then CM Kumarswamy, he said. However, the pay committee recommended Rs 500 this time which was halted once, and in the wake of election the amount was immediately released to woo the voters, he lamented.
He also said that during Kumarswamy’s stint as CM 5, 8000 teachers and lecturers were newly recruited.
About lecturers’ recruitment process days clashing with the election date of 10th of June, MLC Puttanna said that writ petition will be filed seeking to postpone the date of the exams by 20 days ahead. The postponement of mere 3 days 9th 10th and 11th will not serve the purpose, he said.
Later speaking to reporters JD(S) state secretary M G Hegde said that a good number of enrolment of the voters by the party would be a deciding factor of winning the election this time.
MLC Puttanna also urged the voters to cast their votes for JD(S) candidates C M Panchaksharaiah (SW Teachers' Constituency) and S L Bhojegowda (SW Graduates' Constituency). Sushil Noronha JD (S) state vice-president and Vasanth Poojary, district JD (S) secretary were also present on the occasion.