MLC polls: Candidates make their promises at Press Club

The candidates for the elections to the Legislative Council from the local authority constituency answered queries cautiously at an interactive session organised by the Press Club.

The session was attended by H S Chandramouli (Congress), Sunil Subramani (BJP), Sanketh Poovaiah (JDS) and S P Mahadevappa (Independent). The JD(S) candidate tried to showcase the failure of the national parties and projected himself as a better option to elect.
H S Chandramouli of the Congress said “I have been contesting the elections with a sportive spirit. The opponents should also have the same spirit. The voters decide the fate of the candidates and we have to accept their mandate. The elections are held within the framework of the law. It should not give scope for provocative statements.”

Speaking on the rejection of BJP official candidate Suja Kushalappa’s nomination, Chandramouli said it was rejected as per the law. “Even if I had not raised objections to the nominations filed by Suja Kushalappa, the deputy commissioner who is also the election officer, would have rejected the nomination. Had the nomination been accepted, it would have amounted to contempt of court. Papers had been rejected as per Section 8 (3) of the People’s Representation Act. Under the Act, a nominee sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more in a case cannot contest polls.”

Reacting to the violence following Tipu Jayanti celebrations, he said, “I am also hurt by the incident. The magisterial inquiry is in progress. The truth will come out and the perpetrators of violence should be punished. The issue should not be politicised.”

On the other hand, BJP candidate Sunil Subramani said, “Three lives have been lost following the violence after Tipu Jayanti. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the State government are directly responsible for the loss of lives. It was the government that decided to organise the celebrations.”

He also called the rejection of Suja Kushalappa’s nomination a conspiracy. “Those who were elected as MLCs in the past have settled in Bengaluru. To meet the Council member, the people have to travel to Bengaluru. If I am elected, I will be available for the people in the district itself,” he promised.

JD(S) candidate Sanketh Poovaiah said that to strengthen the Panchayath Raj system, the elected representatives in the local authority should discuss the issues in the Legislative Council. There is a need to check the practice of fighting the election on the basis on money power. He appealed to the State Election Commission to issue a ceiling on poll expenditure.

“If elected, I will take part in all the gram panchayat, taluk panchayat, zilla panchayat, and town panchayat meetings,” he added.

Independent candidate S P Mahadevappa said, “MLA K G Bopaiah has undertaken a lot of development work in the district. After the Congress came to power, the development works have come to a standstill. No road has been developed in the district, since the Congress-led government came to power.”