JD(S) district unit President Mohammed Kunhi said the failure of Nalin Kumar Kateel as a MP in the last 10 years would help the coalition candidate to win election in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency.
Speaking to reporters here, on Saturday, he said, “MP has failed utterly in fulfiling the aspirations of the people of the district. The deadlines for the completion of four-laning of the NH 66, including two flyovers at Thokkottu and Pumpwell, has been extended several times and the road works remain incomplete even to this day. The achievement of Nalin Kumar Kateel is zero,” he alleged.
“The coalition government, led by H D Kumaraswamy, has taken up a series of welfare programmes in Karnataka. The loan waiver has benefited the farmers. Compensation has already reached arecanut growers, who lost their crops due to fruit rot disease that hit arecanut plantations in the district,” he said.
He said the JD(S) has already started campaigning by instilling confidence among the workers to vote for the candidate from the coalition partner.
JD(S) is being led by former Minister Amarnath Shetty who has already visited Kadaba, Bantwal, Puttur, Sullia, Surathkal and Mangaluru to mobilise party workers to work for the Congress candidate.
Kunhi said, “The minor differences with Congress will be set aside and will work for the defeat of the BJP candidate.”
JD(S) district unit President appealed to veteran Congress leader Janardhana Poojary not to issue confusing statements and create confusion in the minds of the party workers.
JD(S) State Vice President M B Sadashiva said, “To save Democracy, we all should work unitedly to defeat the BJP. Congress should field a candidate, who takes all into confidence.”
He alleged that the farmers were made to run from pillar to post to avail Rs 2,000 financial assistance under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana has not benefited farmers, who suffered crop loss due to fruit rot disease in the district, he added.
Candidate announcement
JD(S) State Vice President M B Sadashiva said the JD(S) would field a strong candidate in Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency.
The name of the candidate is likely to be announced on March 19. Even the Congress is also likely to announce its candidate on March 19. The BJP has only 41.37% vote share in Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency, he added.