Udupi: Shobha Karandlaje files nomination, BJP leaders bat for Modi

Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Mar 26: Flanked by party leaders and supporters, BJP candidate from Udupi-Chikmagalur Shobha Karandlaje on Wednesday March 26 filed her nomination at DC's office.

Addresing reporters, a confident Karandlaje said, "There are more women voters in this constituency. I will be their voice. Our areca growers and farmers have been suffering and a suitable law should come into force to protect their rights. If I become the MP from this region, I will discuss their issues in the parliament."

She further said, "I have the support of party leaders. There is Modi wave in this region and people are eager to see the development by Narendra Modi in Gujarat be replicated in the country. The party workers too are upbeat and enthusiastic."

Asked to comment on the allegations of corruption levelled by activist S R Hiremath, she said, "Such allegations against politicians are common. I am not going to answer. I have worked for three-and-a-half years as a minister and people have seen my work."

On JD(S) candidate Dhananjay Kumar's allegations that MLA Sunil Kumar and C T Ravi, who was aspiring for Udupi-Chikmagalur ticket, were secretly working against her, Shobha said, "We are all united. It was a unanimous decision to give me the ticket. Sunil Kumar and C T Ravi have supported me and they will make me win. I am confident of winning by a margin of 1.5 lac votes."

She was accompanied by Udupi BJP president Tingale Vikramarjuna Hegde, C T Ravi, Sunil Kumar and former MLA Suresh Kumar.

Party workers' convention

Earlier in the day, the BJP organized a party workers' convention at Sheshayana hall wherein Shimoga candidate and former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa was also present.

Impressed by the gathering, Yeddyurappa said, "Looking at the crowd here, I feel I would have got more votes here. BJP is sure to win this constituency.

"The overall development of Udupi was possible due to the efforts of the late Dr V S Acharya. Jayaprakash Hegde (of Congress) has been MP here for one year and 10 months, but what has he done for the district?"  he said.

"People will decide who should be the MP. According to surveys, BJP will win 20 out of the 28 seats in the state and 46 percent of the seats in the country," he added.

"If India has to become a superpower by 2020, Modi has to be chosen as the next Prime Minister," he said.

Attacking the Congress, Yeddyurappa said, "The Congress government has brought in poor policies. The programmes and projects I had initiated during my tenure as CM have been stopped by the state Congress government. I had proposed a 2000 mw power project, but the centre has stopped it. We should not elect such a government."

Shobha Karandlaje in her address said, "The country is on the threshold of change. China and Pakistan infiltrated into our country but our PM did not say anything. Our soldiers at border say they do not have the weapons they need, but still the PM is silent. Who is responsible for all this?"

"Congress has joined hands with the Naxals and put our national security at risk. It is because of companies like Infosys and Wipro that our country has progressed, otherwise it would not have been possible."

Lauding Narendra Modi, she said, "Even though there are not enough natural resources in Gujarat, Modi still developed his state. If the country has to develop and if women have to be empowered, Modi should come to power. Modi said even though we cannot help our soldiers directly by going to them, he will strengthen them if we elect him.

"This is not a fight between communities. This is struggle for the country," she declared.

Criticizing Congress MP J P Hegde, she said, "If he comes to power, areca growers and farmers in Chikmagalur district will be ruined. He is misleading the people saying that there is no ban on areca."

Chikmagalur MLA C T Ravi said, "We need a Congress-free India. The Congress leaders have been involved with scams like 2G spectrum and many others and caused loss worth several thousand crores. Who is responsible for such loss? If we want to become our country free from terrorism, we need to kick the Congress out. Their leaders are greedy and look for only personal benefits. As a BJP member, I am striving for the party's welfare without considering personal gain."

MLA Sunil Kumar also spoke on the occasion and criticized the Congress for encouraging anti-national activities and terrorism.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the programme, C T Ravi said, "All decisions are taken by party leaders and we will take action against whoever violates the rules."

On Dhananjay Kumar's allegations against BJP after he joined JD(S), he said those were his personal opinions.

On the controversial induction and removal of Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik into the BJP, and his subsequent attack on BJP particularly Ananth Kumar, he said, "It was the central BJP's decision to remove Muthalik and he should not have taken it personally."

Vasant Salian, Harishraj Bannanje, Santosh Kumar, Vijaykumar Udyavar, three women from Shakti Kendra , N Ramakrishna Hegde, Belle Vasudeva, Udaykumar Katapady, Joseph, Harsha Mendon, and K N Abubakker joined BJP on the occasion.

Former MLA Raghupati Bhat, Yashpal Suvarna, Bharati Shetty, Shivashekar, Shyamala Kunder, Paramashivayya, Raghavendra Kini, Yuvaraj and others were present.

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