JOIN USIt is no time to rest: Candidates
A day after the Lok Sabha election, candidates in Dakshina Kannada constituency who burnt the mid-night oil in the last two months fighting the big battle, do not seem to be in a mood to relax yet.
With counting of polls a month away, it will be an agonising wait for the candidates and they are bound to maintain rapport with the party workers at least till the declaration of results.
Though, campaigning under the blazing sun and sleepless nights has taken toll on their health to some extent, the candidates claim it is no time for them to rest. BJP candidate Nalin Kumar Kateel said that Friday was like any other day for him.
“I feel a little relaxed now, but I have not planned for a vacation to ease out,” he told Deccan Herald. After attending the party meeting in the morning, he met a few party workers to discuss about the post-election mood. Post lunch, he visited Mudushedde to pay condolence to the family of an elderly woman Gangu Poojary who died of heart attack, soon after casting vote on Thursday.
Nalin has decided to visit party blocks across the district starting from Saturday or Monday, to interact with the party workers. “Work on organising the party will continue,” he said.
He has been invited to campaign for one of the BJP candidates in Maharashtra, which he is likely to attend.
Appeasing all
Congress candidate B Janardhan Poojary, though sounded relaxed on Friday, he said he had a busy schedule meeting party workers and attending functions like weddings and thread ceremonies. He might have got a little more time to stay at home post election, but he has no plans to spend quality time with family.
“I have been receiving several invitations to attend ceremonies, which I can not miss for the sake of people who have supported me during the election. I have also been asked to campaign for candidates in other states,” he said. Poojary made his presence in some of the functions on Friday.
AAP candidate protests
There seems to be little rest for political novice Aam Admi Party candidate M R Vasudeva who swung into action again on Friday. He along with the party workers staged a protest near Brahmara Kootlu toll gate, opposing the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) for collecting revised toll.
AAP activists had protested against the increase in toll rates alleging violation of model code of conduct, a fortnight ago. The volunteers led by Vasudeva protested again as the authorities did not budge to their demand.
“There is no rest from fighting for justice. Once the toll issue is settled, the party will take up some other relevant issue. We are here to stay,” he stated.
CPI(M) candidate Yadava Shetty too echoed the opinion of other candidates, that it was a routine day for him. “I attended a party meeting in the morning and now I will have to deal with some of the things that are pending due to election campaigning.”
Independent candidate Sudatta Jain, who serves as a cook in one of the hotels in Mangalore, started off his day grinding the rice batter at 4.30 am. “I used to work from early in the morning till afternoon in the hotel and spend later hours on social and political activities. The same will continue,” he told.