Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (DC)

Kundapur, Apr 22: Rakesh Malli, Congress candidate from Kundapur filed his nomination amid fanfare after holding a huge public rally here on April 22.

Addressing the gathering before filing nomination, Malli, who is also the president of INTUC said, "Being a trade union leader I will promise overall development of the constituency along with supporting the trade union. If the voters bless me I can raise voice in favour of labour unions in the parliament. After a gap of 30 years a leader from the trade union has got ticket. I will do my best for the development of my constituency if the labourers and farmers support me in this election. The previous MLAs have not done anything for the last 18 years."

MLC Pratapchandra Shetty addressing the huge rally in Kundapur ahead of Rakesh Malli filing nomination, said, "Under the guidance of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, chief minister Siddaramaiah has given a good governance in Karnataka. The pro-people programmes of the government will help us come back to power."

Urging the electorate to vote for Malli, he said that for the last 18 years leaders from other parties served the constituency but there was no development. "Rakesh Malli has taken the constituency very seriously and will bring change in Kundapur because he is chosen unanimously by the Congress workers and the high command," he added.

MLC Ivan D’Souza said, "BJP leaders are living in an imaginary world. The top brass of the BJP Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi believe whatever their local leaders say but they do not know the ground reality. Amit Shah himself is scared of Congress power and the developmental works undertaken by Siddaramaiah led government. His situation is similar to that of a fish out of water. After coming to power with the help of JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy, the BJP was in confusion about how to run the government. They looted the state and were sent to jail. Now they are dreaming of coming to power. But the voters of Kundapur know who listens to their grievances."

KPCC secretary Mamatha Gatti addressing the gathering said, "The MP (Shobha Karandlaje) from this constituency does not show any interest to solve issues like providing drinking water to the people. She is more interested in small issues that happen in Mangaluru and now she is trying to contest election from Bengaluru. Congress is the only party in India which has worked for the people and the development of the nation."

Another local leader Vikas Hegde speaking on the occasion criticized the former MLAs for their failure to develop the constituency in their respective tenure.

On the occasion three gram panchayath members under Gangadhar Shetty Herikudru joined the Congress and over 25 JD(S) workers under the minority unit president Haroon and Saheb. Kundapur Thousands of Congress workers along with all the office bearers from the constituency and supporters assembled during the rally.

District Congress President Janardhan Thonse presided over the rally. Congress president Malyady Shivarama Shetty welcomed and Vinod Crasta compered. Kota Block Congress president Shanker Kundar rendered vote of thanks.

M A Gafoor, G A Bava, Manjunath Bhandary, former MLA N M Adyanthaya, Basavraju, B Hiriyanna, Shanker Kundar, Jyothi V Puthran, Ichitartha Shetty, Mani Gopala, Amrit Shenoy, Narasimha Murthy Udupi, Dinesh Puthran, Kishan Hegde Kolkebail, Timma Poojary, Jacob Dsouza, Roshany Olivera, P K Suresh, Ganesh Kotian, Manohar Shetty, Chandra Amin, Rahim, Laxmi Venkatesh, Rakesh Malli's father Sadananda Malli, mother Swarnalatha S Malli, wife Vinutha R Malli and others were present.