Mangalore: Cong announces election committees amid chaos

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Feb 20: Congress leader and former union minister Janardhan Poojary on Wednesday February 20 said that preparations for the upcoming local body elections are going on in full swing in the Congress.

Briefing the media on his party's poll preparations, Poojary announced the formation of three committees - election publicity committee with 21 members, manifesto committee with 19 members and candidate election committee with 29 members.

He said that everyone's opinion was considered while selecting the members for the committees and that the choices were unanimous.

"This is an important election for the Congress and we will select only those candidates who have been working from the zonal level. Only hard working candidates will be condidered," he said.

"We will take opinions from zonal level block committees and district committees and only then decide on the candidates," he said, adding that Congress will contest for all the 64 seats in Mangalore.

"The nominations will be finalized and filed before February 23," he added.

MLA UT Khader, mayor Gulzar Banu, K S Mohammed Masood, former MLC and president of Jamia Masjid, Kudroli, P V Mohan, J R Lobo, Badruddin, Ivan D’Souza, Mithun Rai, B Ibrahim, T K Sudheer, Kripa Alva among others were present.

Chaos

Even as the press meet was going on, a minor chaos erupted when former mayor Ashraf raised a protest after finding that his name was missing from the election candidate selection committee.

He alleged that his name had not been considered nor was he consulted while selecting the members, which he said was done arbitrarily.

"Being the Congress block president my name is missing from the members' list. This clearly shows that Janardhan Poojary is against Muslims," he said.

MLA Ramanath Rai assured that the elections are being taken seriously and everyone's opinion will be considered.

MLA U T Khader then intervened in the matter and took Ashraf out, after which the press meet resumed.

Later, speaking to media, Ashraf said that only hard working people should be selected as members, but here the party had left out him and Nagendra of south block.

"I am here for the party's sake or else I would have left long back. Janardhan Poojary is against Muslims - till he is there, the party cannot progress," he lashed out.

"This is injustice to Muslims. I am not interested in power or position, but only in getting representation for my community and my people. I am working for the party," he said.

Watch Video