He claims that he is fighting against Modi than Nalin Kumar Kateel 

Taking on BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Congress candidate from Dakshina Kannada constituency B Janardhan Poojary declared that in the Lok Sabha election his fight is against Modi than the BJP candidate Nalin Kumar Kateel.

“It is Poojary versus Modi,” he said. He was addressing the Congress workers’ convention organised by the District Congress Committee at Town Hall on Monday. 

Justifying his statement, he said that the BJP candidate was campaigning and seeking votes in the name of Modi. Naturally, the contest is between Poojary and Modi, he said and chided Modi for insulting the BJP’s senior leaders including L K Advani and Jaswanth Singh. 

Poojary maintained his stand on his statements on the need for reservations to Brahmins and GSB community members. “I am asking you (people) aren’t there poor people in Brahmin and GSB communities? When all other communities have reservations, why not give reservations to these communities as well. I will fight to provide them the reservation,” he reiterated.

He also promised of promoting industrial hub in eight districts of the state, under public-private partnership, if he is elected as the MP. The idea, he said, was developed when he was the parliamentarian last time and halted as he was not re-elected. The project if implemented will generate employment. 

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Oscar Fernandes said the responsibility was on every party worker to work for the victory of Janardhan Poojary.

“It was Poojary who motivated party leaders and workers during the last Assembly election and helped the Congress to  win seats in even constituencies.

Poojary is not remembered as a former minister or as the former AICC secretary, but as the one who stood strong and united the party when the Congress faced a hard time during Indira Gandhi. He has sacrificed a lot for the party,” he said.

DK District-in-Charge Minister B Ramanath Rai and Urban Development Minister Vinaya Kumar Sorake too batted for Poojary. Ramanath Rai said that the election was more of a test to Nalin Kumar Kateel, than to Poojary.

“The people will vote against Nalin for not having done anything much to the district. When the budget session was going on in Delhi, a media reported Nalin of inaugurating a garment shop here.

The BJP’s market value has gone down, due to which the party is trying to promote using Modi brand,” he ridiculed. Sorake spoke on the achievements of the Congress government in the Centre and the State and hoped that the Dakshina Kannada constituency will create a history in the parliament election, with the Congress winning with highest margin.

Retired DCP Dharmaiah, JD(S) minority cell district unit former president D M Aslam, former corporator Mariyamma Thomas and others joined the Congress on the occasion.Earlier, the Congress election office was inaugurated at Exotica in Balmatta.