Udupi: Congress Leaders Thank Voters, Train Guns on BJP
Shubhalakshmi
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Mar 25: A Congress party get-together was organized at Royal Gardens here on Sunday March 25 to express gratitude to voters and party workers who helped Congress candidate Jayaprakash Hegde win the Udupi-Chikmagalur bypoll last week.
Apart from J P Hegde, the event was graced by Congress bigwigs like state opposition leader Siddaramaiah, Rajya Sabha MP Oscar Fernandes, former KPCC president R V Deshpande, union minister for railways K H Muniyappa, union minister for corporate affairs Dr Veerappa Moily, KPCC president Dr Parameshwar, and other Congress leaders like D K Shivkumar, C M Ibrahim, Pramod Madhwaraj and many others.
Addressing the gathering, Siddaramaiah said that Udupi is a district of intelligent people, and that their decision to choose Congress is a big gain for the party, one that has boosted its image.
Taking digs at the BJP-led state government he said, "Today morality has gone to the dogs. Yeddyurappa was talking of character and morality sometime back but today there is enough corruption to put the people to shame. Karnataka's resources have been looted and destroyed."
Moily in his address said that the bypoll victory is a real win for the party. BJP had taken taken it for granted that they would win the byoll just because they are in power. "But the voters used 'Sudarshana Chakra' against them in the election," he added.
He further said, "Congress sees all religions and creeds as one. It is a secular culture which it has been following for ages. We will work with a vision, and work tirelessly. Congress victory lies in the victory of people."
R V Deshpande called the BJP administration a 'curse' upon the people of Karnataka, a curse that has been broken by the Congress victory in bypoll. He also advised the partyworkers to win the confidence of the people and serve them selflessly.
Oscar Fernandes thanked the people, the Congress party workers and leaders, local leaders and everyone who played a part in the bypoll victory.
J P Hegde thanked Congress national president Sonia Gandhi for placing her confidence in him. "It is my duty to ensure that the self-respect and pride of my people is not hurt in any manner. I will always remain approachable to the people, and will never forget them.
Dr Parameshwar specially thanked the fishing community and the flower vendors who voted for Congress, and urged the party workers to win the hearts of the people.
"Chief minister Sadananda Gowda is granting crores of rupees to Mutts in vain. It is not going to help in any way," said C M Ibrahim. He also questioned why tainted former minister Janardhana Reddy was given TV and sofa set inside the jail, and added that corrupt politicians should not be allowed to contest in elections.