Sharing almost equal problems with other wards of Mangalore City Corporation, the areas including Bejai, Kadri, Padavu, Maroli and Bendoor, rue of lack of underground drainage facilities, water and road complaints. When contacted, most of the candidates expressed their confidence that they could provide better facilities if they get good co-operation from the residents.

Ward 31 Bejai

The ward includes parts of Bejai, Kapikad and Kuntikana, Anegundi and Bejai New Road, having a total of 5221 voters. Lancelot Pinto was the corporator since 2002, who is in fray for the forthcoming polls too, representing Congress. He felt that his works during the previous term would help him to return to his post.

However, BJP candidate Santhosh Ullal said the ward suffers from problems regarding road, water and underground drainage, finding solution to which will be his first priority if elected.

Ward 32 Kadri (North)

Kadri Park area, Kadri Manjunatha Swamy Temple area, Gundalike, Mundana, Kandettu, Gopuragundi and Kali gudi area come under this ward. There are total of 3578 voters. K Divakar was the immediate past corporator.

BJP candidate Roopa D Bangera said her intention is to see that the ward gets good drainage system at least in the rainy season, while equal attention will be given to drinking water and road.

Ms Jayalakshmi contests from the ward from Congress.

Ward 33 Kadri (South)

The ward has 4221 voters in all, that comprises places like Bunts hostel area, Pinto Lane, Karangalpadi, Kadri Jogimath area, Mallikatte, parts of Kadri Kambala area, Kadri pumpwell area and Kai Battalu. BJP’s Ganesh Rao was the previous corporator.

Congress candidate D K Ashok Kumar said people are disappointed towards the works of the previous corporator which will be a plus point for him this time. He said over 150 families near Jogimath, experience difficulty in reaching their homes because of the road problem. M Gopalakrishna Rao from BJP is another candidate.

Ward 34 Shivabagh

Gilbert Pinto was the immediate past corporator. The ward includes Shivabagh area, parts of Lower Bendoorwell, Nayagar Lane, Jayashri Gate and Bikarnakatte Kaikamba. The ward has 4,256 voters in all. Congress candidate Gretta Rebello said she has plans of visiting all places of the area at least once in a week regularly, and form committees to look into the usual problems in a systematic manner.

As identified by BJP candidate Veena Shenoy, houses in Shivabagh area face the threat of artificial flood during every monsoon, and she said she intends to provide good drainage to such areas to solve the complaints.

Ward 35 Padavu (Central)

The ward comprises Kalpane, Karmika Colony, Rajiv Nagar Ashraya Colony, Kongur and Neethinagar having a total of 6459 voters. Abdul Aziz from Congress was the earlier corporator.

The ward has created much interest among the observers because of the direct fight between strong candidates.
Immediate past mayor Vijaya Arun contests from Congress, while Mariamma Thomas who was denied ticket from BJP contests as an Independent candidate. However, another candidate Sumana (BJP) said she has a plus point of being the local candidate, where she has much support from the voters. Besides drainage and streetlight problems, the area suffers from lack of waste management facility, she said.

Ms Vijaya Arun said most of the areas of the ward have achieved fair development and she is confident of her victory.

Ward 36 Padavu (East)

The ward has a total of 5,514 voters. Mangalanagar, parts of Kulashekhara, DKMUL milk dairy area, parts of Kudupu, silver gate, Paldane, Baiturli and Kogga come under the ward. Bhaskar K (Congress) was the earlier corporator, who has given another opportunity to contest from the same ward this time. BJP’s Purushotham is another candidate from the ward.

Ward 37 Maroli

James D’Souza was the corporator for the ward since 2002. The area includes Pumpwell Karnataka Bank area, Premnagar Bajjodi, MUDA new layout, Lalbahadur layout, Naguri church and convent area, Sooryanarayana Temple area, Jodukatte Maroli, Vasanthnagar, Jayanagar layout and Nattimane Alangar, having a total of 5,834 voters.

Congress candidate Shashiraj A said as major part of the ward includes hilly region, low water pressure is the significant problem there. He said his attention will also be on infrastructure development. James D’Souza who is contesting from BJP said there are no serious problems in the ward.

Ward 38 Bendoor

There are 4,066 voters in the ward, that includes parts of Arya Samaj Road, Vas Lane, Balmatta Mission Compound, SCS Hospital Road, Upper Bendoor Road, Balikashrama Road, Lobo Lane, behind Kankanady market, parts of Lower Bendoor, Kalpana Road, Athena Hospital Road and Averi Junction Road. Congress candidate Naveen R D’Souza was the immediate past corporator, who is contesting from the party this time too. K Praveenchandra Nayak contests from BJP.

Ward 39 Falnir

The ward comprises Valancia, Gorigudda, Mariyanagar, St Joseph Nagar, Suterpet and Bishop Compound Attavar. The total number of voters is 5365. Abdul Saleem from Congress was the previous corporator.

Congress candidate Jacintha Vijaya Alfred said many houses in Suterpet and Gorigudda face much problem in getting proper drinking water, while many get water for some time in the late night. Another candidate Jyothi S Yalaburgi (BJP) said the voters complain about the wretched roads and sewage problems, which they want to be solved irrespective of political alignments.

Ward 40 Court

Court ward has 3568 voters in all, comprising areas like St Aloysius College area, Jyothi Circle area, Milagres church area, Chinmaya School, areas left to the railway station, area behind Hotel Motimahal, Sanyasi Gudde, Hotel Janata Deluxe and Hotel Manorama area. Congress representative Premchand is the immediate past corporator, who is contesting this time too.

BJP candidate Ranganath C Kini said he received complaints regarding ration cards and domestic gas from the people, solution to which will be his priority, apart from betterment of road and water supply.

To be continued