Addressing a Congress workers meet organised as part of the Gram Panchayat election campaign at B C Road near here on Thursday, Ugrappa said that irregularities to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore has been taken place in the mining scam in which Reddy brothers are involved. Yeddyurappa did not develop the State. Instead, he broke the harmony in the society, he charged. “Yeddyurappa, who is presenting a Tuglak’s rule in the State, is showing ‘Hitlerism’ in administration,” he added.
Talking about Yeddyurappa’s statements of forming Vigilance Committees in GPs, Ugrappa said that it is a part of a conspiracy to bring all GPs, where BJP has no majority, under their control.
He said that the Panchayatiraj elections will strengthen the roots of democracy. “The 73rd amendment to Article 243 of the Constitution of India ensures power to local self governments. Though the Constitution mandates to conduct GP elections apolitically, Yeddyurappa ignored it by participating in election campaigns,” Ugrappa criticised.
‘Do not be overconfident’
Former Union Minister and Senior Congress Leader B Janardhana Poojari advised the party workers and leaders not to be overconfident in elections. “Do not be overconfident and instead work in villages. Otherwise, you will have to face the same fate, which I experienced during the Lok Sabha election,” he added.
Poojari said that a total of 3,208 candidates supported by Congress, including 938 in Mangalore Taluk, 583 in Belthangadi, 563 in Puttur, 320 in Sullia and 804 in Bantwal, will contest the GP elections. “The Congress is still alive and energetic in Dakshina Kannada district. The GP election is the right opportunity for party workers at grassroot-level to bring BJP government down,” he added.
Opposition leader in Legislative Council Motamma, State Mahila Congress President Manjula Naidu, Former Minister B A Moideen, District Congress Committee President B Ramantha Rai, Vice President Ivan D’Souza, MLAs U T Khader, Abhaychandra Jain and District Mahila Congress President Mamatha Gatti were present.
