Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi Aug 26: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao released the manifesto of Congress party for local bodies’ elections on Saturday, August 25.
Addressing media he said, “I am very sure that Congress will be the largest party to win more local bodies than any other party in the upcoming elections. This coalition government is also continuing our schemes. We have decided to waive off Rs 30,000 crore farmers’ loans in cabinet meetings and notification will be out soon. In our tenure under the leadership of Siddaramaiah, Karnataka has seen tremendous developments. We are first in renewable energy production and employment opportunities. No one is saying that the former government has not done any developmental works. In Udupi also, we have done many developmental works and on that basis, we are asking people to support Congress in the upcoming elections.”
Speaking about the Siddaramaiah’s comment about becoming the next chief minister, Gundu Rao said, “He may have said this in a public meeting in reply to supporters’ wish to see him again as CM. This coalition government will rule the state for next 5 years, there is no doubt in that.”
Gundu Rao made serious allegations about Udupi-Chickmagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje and said “Shobha Karandlaje is not to be seen in her own constituency. Paresh Mestha’s death was a political benefit for them. We have handed over the case to CBI. Why is Shobha not talking anything about the progress of the case? She has the power to ask information from CBI officers on the case’s progress. Yeddyurappa and Shobha Karandlaje have done nothing for the benefit of Karnataka. People of the state should change the useless BJP MP’s in upcoming Lok Sabha elections.”
Answering reporters’ question about no help from the central government to Kodagu flood victims Gundu Rao said, “We have sent two letters to the central government requesting for aid. But not a single rupee has been released by them. The central government could release at least preliminary relief aid. None of the BJP MP talks about this. Shobha is only posing for photographs as if she is serving flood victims in Kodagu.”
The manifesto of Congress mainly concentrates on improving the administration in municipality and health department. Providing basic facilities to government schools like computer facility, and scholarship to meritorious students, cleanliness of the district to attract more tourists to the temple city, establishing National Skill Development Centre in Udupi and effective waste management system are also part of the manifesto.
Leaders Pramodh Madhwaraj, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Pratapchandra Shetty, Ivan D’Souza, Gopal Bhandary, M A Gaffur and Janardhan Tonse were present.