Lobo allocated MCC's commercial space illegally: BJP

Alleging that the standing committee of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has approved handing over an office space to former MLA J R Lobo, in the corporation’s commercial complex at Mallikatta by flouting rules, BJP corporators and party workers staged a protest in front of MCC on Wednesday.

Addressing protesters, Premananda Shetty, Leader of the Opposition in the Council, said the Standing Committee for Taxation, Finance & Appeals in its meeting on July 31 made an allocation for Lobo's office based on his request. A 500 sqft, fully furnished office, was approved for a three year period.

The space should have been allocated through public auction. But in this case, it has been allocated to a former MLA illegally, he alleged.

He urged the authorities to revoke the order to sanction space to the former MLA and warned of legal action if the order is not withdrawn.

The protesters alleged that the ruling Congress was delaying the process of naming the Mangaluru Town Hall after Kudmal Ranga Rao, despite the MCC Council approving the measure in 2016.