Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Mar 20: “The Christian community has been always loyal to Congress party and has played an important role in the wins of Congress candidates irrespective of caste and religion. The Christian votes are decisive in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Shimogga, and Chikkamagluru, Bengaluru (urban), Bidar, Davangere and Madikeri. But we have no adequate number of representatives. At present JR Lobo, K J George and Ivan D’Souza are the only representing the Christian community,” said International Federation of Karnataka Christian Associations (IFKCA), Bengaluru and Udupi district unit president Prashanth Jatthanna in a press conference at Brahmagiri on Monday, March 19.
“Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandez has served the Congress party for more than 50 years. Christian community has substantial numbers in seven districts namely Bengaluru district-2, Bidar-2, Dakshina Kannada-2 and Udupi-1. Around 25% of Christians are present in these constituencies. The IFKCA members urge Oscar Fernandes to give at least five tickets for Christian candidates out of seven seats in following constituencies namely Bengaluru for K J George (Sarvajna Nagar), Bengaluru (Shantinagar), Moodbidri for Ivan D'Souza (Mulky), Southern Mangaluru for J R Lobo and southern Bidar for David Simiyone.
“Four candidates have already shown their interests to contest the election in four constituencies except Shantinagar. MLC Ivan D'Souza is willing to contest assembly election this time. He has played a crucial role in reaching the government programmes to grass root as the vice president of Christian development committee. MLC Ivan put his efforts in reserving Rs 200 crores in the state budget and protested for getting justice to areca-nut growers of the state.”
Speaking about Abhaychandra Jain, Prashant said, “He stated that he is not contesting in the upcoming election anymore and he himself admired the developmental works done by Ivan. So he is the most suitable person to stand from Moodbidri-Mulky constituency. Ivan has started ‘Janaspandana’ office last year for the development of his area.”
“Now Jain has become proactive and has been engaged in the promotion of party. Ivan D'Souza has carried out many development works like road construction, street lights, auto-stands, health campaign, distribution of ration cards etc,” he said.
“Hence, considering the developmental works carried out by Ivan D'Souza, IFKCA and all Christian communities (Catholic and Protestant) jointly urge the Congress party give him the ticket for state assembly elections where he will win by majority votes,” he said.
Dr Nery Cornelio, secretary of IFKCA, Louis Lobo, president, Wilson Rodrigues, zilla panchayat member Shirva and Sunil Kabral, executive committee member were present.