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Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Dec 18: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit president and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel on Friday December 18 said that many former Congress MLAs, and zilla and taluk panchayat members are waiting to join BJP in the state.
He was speaking after welcoming Congress zilla panchayat member Majula M Mave and her husband Madhava Mave district president of Other Backwards Classes, taluk panchayat member Kumar Bhat Bajekodi and others to Bharatiya Janta Party at district BJP office near PVS circle.
Nalin said, "Former leaders of Congress party and party workers are wishing to join BJP because they have realised that Congress has no future in the country.
"National president of Congress and Karnataka state president of Congress both are out on bail. Hence, there is confusion within their party. There is confusion between the Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar 'gang', which has resulted in KJ Halli-DJ Halli violence. This put Congress workers in confusion and helped BJP to win RR Nagar and Sira constituencies in recent by-elections," he said.
He also alleged that Congress has projected that BJP is against minorities. “What is the contribution of Congress for the development of minorities? It was the BJP which introduced many development programmes for the development of minorities.
"Congress has used minorities only for votes and played with their future, without proper development, education or without the progress of minorities. Those Muslims who believe in nationality, will vote for BJP. In BJP there is no separation. The party will treat everyone equal. BJP will win all three constituencies in the upcoming bye-elections at Maski, Basavakalyan, Belgaum constituencies," he said.
He also said that in the upcoming gram panchayats, BJP backed candidates will win 80% seats in the state and 90% seats in the district and make the district Congress-free.
Citing the murder of then Karopady gram panchayat vice president Abdul Jaleel Karopady, Nalin said, "Congress has failed to protect their own party workers. Hence, the party workers feel insecure and they are under confusion. They have no protection in Congress."
Nalin also said that in some gram panchayats, Congress has no candidates. Hence they are asking BJP workers to contest the polls.
Congress zilla panchayat member Majula M Mave and her husband Madhava Mave president of Other Backwards Class, taluk panchayat member Kumar Bhat Bajekodi spoke on the occasion and alleged that a few Congress leaders in Bantwal Vidhana Sabha constituency are suppressing them and had intervened in the developmental works. Hence they decided to join the BJP.
Earlier, BJP district president Sudarshan Moodbidri addressed media said, "The BJP supported candidates will contest in all 220 gram panchayats of the district. The party is all set to face the elections. Party leaders will work for the elections and bring victory for BJP backed candidates."
Speaking on Congress leader’s allegation that the BJP has meddled with reservation of gram panchayats election, he said "When Congress was in power and meddled with reservation, the BJP had won 128 gram panchayats in the district."
On allegations that BJP is luring Congress supported candidates to withdraw their nominations for money, he said, "BJP has no necessity of luring the Congress candidates. BJP has several party workers and they are ready to contest the elections. People will support BJP favoured candidates due to the development works of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister B S Yediyurappa's government in centre and state. BJP supported candidates will win 80% gram panchayat in the district."