Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Dec 6: Businessman and Congress leader Rakesh Malli's name is doing the rounds as the Congress candidate from Kundapur for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.
Social media is abuzz with news that Rakesh Malli, who is the president of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), will contest from Kundapur. Though the news has gone viral in the social media, the local Congressmen have vehemently denied having any official information about it.
However, Rakesh Malli has himself said that he is open to the idea of contesting from Kundapur.
Speaking to daijiworld in Kundapur, he said that he has shouldered various positions in the Congress party and has been the president of INTUC for the past six months. "I am desirous of contesting from Kundapur Assembly constituency if I get an opportunity. I will contest if party leaders, workers and people support me. I need help from all the people," he said.
An INTUC conference has been scheduled as a prelude to Malli's selection as the Congress candidate. It is said that the intention of the conference is to make his candidature official.
"The conference will be held at Kundapur R N Shetty auditorium on Saturday December 9 at 10 am. AICC chief secretary Oscar Fernandes is scheduled to inaugurate and MLC Pratapchandra Shetty will chair the conference. Minister Pramod Madhwaraj, minister of mines and geology Vinay Kulkarni, MLA K Gopala Poojary, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Legislative Council chief whip Ivan D' Souza, district congress president Janardhan Thonse and other party leaders will participate," said Rakesh Malli, INTUC Kundapur president Chandra Ameen and Youth INTUC president Ajith Shetty.
Demand for more representation
A request has been sent to Congress leaders that at least five seats should be alloted to INTUC candidates in the Assembly elections this time. It is said that INTUC will get at least one ticket. Rakesh Malli being the state president is most likely get a ticket to contest the elections.