With not much to claim from development works, Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, is banking solely on the Balakot air strike to get re-elected from Dakshina Kannnada, said president of Dakshina Kannada Pradesh Congress Commitee and MLC Harish Kumar here on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference conducted by the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders here, Mr. Harish Kumar alleged that Mr. Kateel was not an active MP and failed to carry out development works in Dakshina Kannada. “A glaring example of his failure was his inability to complete the flyover works at Thokkottu and Pumpwell Junctions in the city in time,” he said.“He (Mr. Kateel) has no other go than to rely on the Balakot air strike, which he hopes will act as ‘oxygen’ for him to get re-elected,” he said. The Congress, he said, has this time fielded Mithun Rai, a young activist, against Mr. Kateel.
JD(S) State vice-president M.B. Sadashiva said party activists would work with the Congress for Mr. Rai’s victory.
On the impact of the Congress not fielding a person from the Billava community as the party candidate from Dakshina Kannada, Mr. Harish Kumar said he and senior Congress leader and Rajyasabha member B.K. Hariprasad were among members of the community who have been recognised by the party. “Support for the party from the community will not go away,” he said, and added, “This time we will get the support of (Bunts) community to which Mr. Rai belongs.”
Mr. Harish Kumar said that a joint meeting of Congress and JD(S) supporters will be held at the Town Hall at 10 a.m. on Monday. Around 1 p.m., the workers of the two parties will arrive in a procession with party candidate Mr. Rai to the office of the Deputy Commissioner where the nomination papers will be filed.
B. Ramanath Rai, former Minister who also heads the district election committee of Congress and JD(S); district in-charge Minister U.T. Khader; Ivan D’Souza, MLC ; K. Amarnath Shetty, former JD(S) MLA; Mohammed Kunhi, JD(S) district president; and Mr. Rai were among others present.