<p class="title">Former MLA Mohiuddin Bava alleged that Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath was exerting pressure on him to withdraw a case against Ajeem, son of former mayor Gulzar Banu, who had slapped him in public.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“It is true that former mayor Gulzar Banu’s son Ajeem had slapped me. Even my personal assistant was injured in a scuffle that broke out among factions over the issue of a ticket to contest the election to the council of Mangaluru City Corporation.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">To a query on why pressure was being exerted on him, he said it is better to ask that to MLA Vedavyas Kamath.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“After coming out of a press conference venue on October 30, former mayor Gulzar Banu, her son Ajeem and another person were at the spot. When I went to pacify them, Gulzar’s son slapped me all of a sudden. I had not registered a case. My PA too was injured in the scuffle, who in turn had registered a complaint. The registration of the complaint has no connection with me. I have suffered pain in my ear following the slap. I was admitted to a hospital on Thursday and was discharged on Friday,” he explained.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Transparency was maintained while issuing tickets to the aspirants to contest the election to the council of MCC. When locals had demanded issuing a ticket to another able candidate during the previous election, the Congress had issued a ticket to Gulzar Banu to contest from Katipalla ward. However, SDPI candidate won against her. This year, ward and booth presidents had recommended a few names including that of Gulzar Banu. However, the high command had decided to issue the ticket to a former MLA’s daughter. I have no role in the denial of ticket to Gulzar Banu,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The former MLA clarified that he had not even promised a ticket to Gulzar Banu.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I had only promised to support her if she was issued a ticket. In the list recommended by Block Congress President, her name had figured first. It was my responsibility to ensure the victory as I hail from the ward. SDPI had fielded a strong candidate from the ward and Congress had a challenge in the ward.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bava alleged, “Mangaluru North MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty is inaugurating all the projects that were sanctioned during my tenure. The present MLA is not approachable to the common man.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Reacting to an allegation of accepting Rs 10 lakh from Gulzar Banu he said, “A ticket aspirant from Katipalla third ward had offered me a crore for a ticket. The voters of the ward were in favour of another candidate. Hence, he was not given a ticket. The names of candidates are finalised by the high command, not me.”</p>
<p class="title">Former MLA Mohiuddin Bava alleged that Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath was exerting pressure on him to withdraw a case against Ajeem, son of former mayor Gulzar Banu, who had slapped him in public.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“It is true that former mayor Gulzar Banu’s son Ajeem had slapped me. Even my personal assistant was injured in a scuffle that broke out among factions over the issue of a ticket to contest the election to the council of Mangaluru City Corporation.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">To a query on why pressure was being exerted on him, he said it is better to ask that to MLA Vedavyas Kamath.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“After coming out of a press conference venue on October 30, former mayor Gulzar Banu, her son Ajeem and another person were at the spot. When I went to pacify them, Gulzar’s son slapped me all of a sudden. I had not registered a case. My PA too was injured in the scuffle, who in turn had registered a complaint. The registration of the complaint has no connection with me. I have suffered pain in my ear following the slap. I was admitted to a hospital on Thursday and was discharged on Friday,” he explained.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Transparency was maintained while issuing tickets to the aspirants to contest the election to the council of MCC. When locals had demanded issuing a ticket to another able candidate during the previous election, the Congress had issued a ticket to Gulzar Banu to contest from Katipalla ward. However, SDPI candidate won against her. This year, ward and booth presidents had recommended a few names including that of Gulzar Banu. However, the high command had decided to issue the ticket to a former MLA’s daughter. I have no role in the denial of ticket to Gulzar Banu,” he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The former MLA clarified that he had not even promised a ticket to Gulzar Banu.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“I had only promised to support her if she was issued a ticket. In the list recommended by Block Congress President, her name had figured first. It was my responsibility to ensure the victory as I hail from the ward. SDPI had fielded a strong candidate from the ward and Congress had a challenge in the ward.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bava alleged, “Mangaluru North MLA Dr Y Bharath Shetty is inaugurating all the projects that were sanctioned during my tenure. The present MLA is not approachable to the common man.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Reacting to an allegation of accepting Rs 10 lakh from Gulzar Banu he said, “A ticket aspirant from Katipalla third ward had offered me a crore for a ticket. The voters of the ward were in favour of another candidate. Hence, he was not given a ticket. The names of candidates are finalised by the high command, not me.”</p>