'Cong gave highest opportunities to Billavas'

Congress has not neglected Billavas. Instead, Congress government had given highest opportunities to Billavas, said District Congress Committee President and MLC Harish Kumar.

He was speaking at a press conference here, on Sunday.

On why the Congress did not give ticket to a candidate belonging to Billava community in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, Kumar said former MLAs Gopal Poojary, Vasanth Bangera, Vinay Kumar Sorake and Udupi District In-charge Minister Jayamala - all belong to Billava community.

Kumar said that he himself was a Billava. B Janardhana Poojary, who is from Billava community, was issued ticket by Congress for Lok Sabha elections nine times in the past. “The BJP has not fielded a single Billava candidate in 28 constituencies in Karnataka.”

District Youth Congress President Mithun Rai will file his nomination papers as the coalition candidate from Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency at Deputy Commissioner’s Office on March 25 between 12.49 pm to 1.30 pm, Kumar added.

He said Mithun Rai was a youth icon and had worked as the president of District Youth Congress. The Congress and JD(S) workers will gather in front of Town Hall on Monday morning at 10.30 am and Mithun will be brought in a procession to the DC’s Office, where he will file his nomination.

“The district needs an active MP. The Congress and the JD(S) will carry out a united campaign for the victory of Mithun Rai”, Kumar said.

During the last 10 years, the MP from BJP has not contributed anything to the district, he said.

JD(S) District President Muhammed Kunhi said the achievements of the coalition government in the state would play a significant role in the victory of the coalition candidate.

Former minister and Head of Coalition Committee for Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha Constituency B Ramanath Rai said that Mithun was an active worker of Congress and was a right selection for MP candidate. The sitting MP’s performance has not been up to the mark. No significant achievement has been made by him during his tenure. To the contrary, the development works such as flyover works and NH works have remained stagnant. All the major contributions to the district such as NMPT and airport were made by the Congress while the party was in power in the Centre”, Rai said.