Pic: Umesh Marpalli

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 1: The Congress party should field MLC Ivan D’Souza as the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, proposed International Federation of Karnataka Christian Associations district President Dr Nery Carnelio.

Addressing a press meet at press club on August 1, he said Ivan D’Souza has been selected unanimously by the Christian community members as their candidate and they hope AICC too considers their request.

“There are 4 per cent Christian community members in the state and around 25 to 30 lakh are eligible to vote. The party had given two seats for Christian leaders to contest in the previous assembly elections and should give at least two seats to Christian community members even in the Lok Sabha elections,” they demanded.

“National level political leaders like Oscar Fernandes, Lobo Prabhu, Ranganath Shenoy, and U S Mallya have represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha elections earlier. The Federation demands that MLC Ivan D’Souza is given one ticket and one more seat is reserved for a Christian candidate at Bengaluru Central,” Carnelio said.

Carnelio praised D’Souza calling him an eligible candidate and an active leader. “He has actively taken part in the development works across the state. If he is elected as the MP in Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, all the problems in the constituency will be sorted. Ivan D’Souza who hails from Udupi, has brought Rs 9 crore to his hometown for the development purpose. He has always voiced out when people of Coastal belt and Malnadu have faced problems, be it the value added price for areca nut and other crops, problems of Beedi workers and fishermen,” he said.

“In history of Karnataka state, for the first time, Ivan has united other community people by hosting Deepavali, Iftar-koota during Ramzan and celebrated Christmas fest with people of other communities,” he added.

“The Congress must consider Ivan D’souza as the MP candidate. A Christian delegation from Udupi will meet AICC president Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao, former CM Siddaramaiah, and deputy chief minister G Parameshwar and will hand over a memo requesting the same,” he said.

Prashanth Jathanna, president of State Indian Christian Okkoota, Stevan Colaco, general secretary, Minority Christian Association, Maxim D’Souza, secretary, Catholic Sabha Udupi , Janet Barboza, president, Christian Stree-Sanghatan Udupi, Charles Ambler, district secretary of Minority Forum, Alwyn Quadres, President, Catholic Sabha, Udupi Pradesh, Deon D’Souza, District Catholic Youth Association, and Valerian Fernandes, former district secretary, Catholic Sabha were present.