Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NM)
 
Mangalore, Apr 14: BJP district president Pratap Simha Nayak on Monday April 14 rubbished talks of Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi of Prajaprabhutva Vedike joining the BJP and said the reported 'meeting' between Thimarodi, party's Lok Sabha candidate Nalin Kumar Kateel and RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, which aroused much curiosity, was just a ‘casual’ campaign.

Addressing a press meet, Pratap Nayak clarified, "We did not officially induct Thimarodi into the party fold. There is a procedure to induct people into the party. The approach of BJP Lok Sabha candidate was only part of the door-to-door campaign. We did not officially induct Thimarodi to BJP," he stressed.

Mahesh Shetty Thimarodi had led the protest against the rape and murder of Sowjanya near Dharmasthala and demanded to hand over the case to the CBI. It may be recalled that Thimarodi had severely criticized BJP's silence on Sowjanya’s case.
 
Nayak further said that the BJP has done everything possible in support of Sowjanya. "It was the BJP government which handed over the case to the CoD. However, we did not want anyone to simply use the ‘issue’ to degrade the name of Dharmasthala Kshetra," he said.
 
Pratap Simha Nayak further said that the Election Commission should provide extra buses for people who have to travel from other regions to the district to cast their votes. “We have received several complaints from people who have migrated to other districts for work that the buses during the election time are full and there are no seats available. Therefore, the Election Commission should take initiative to solve this problem," he urged.
 
Former state minister Krishna Palemar said that the Congress has failed to develop the district in spite of having four ministers in the state and two cabinet ministers. "The construction work on the national highway between BC Road and Suratkal started ten years ago and still remains incomplete," he said.
 
He also said that the petrol and diesel prices could be brought down if petroleum minister Veerappa Moily has the will to do so. "Presently, the billing point for petrol, diesel and LPG which is brought to the district is  located in Cochin. A separate billing point should be established in this port city, which will help in bringing down the price of fuel," he said.