‘Coalition govt is on ventilator in state’

District BJP unit president Sanjeev Matandoor said that the party has geared up to ensure a third term for incumbent MP Nalin Kumar Kateel from Dakshina Kannada.

Kateel is expected to win with a margin of over 2 lakh votes, said Matandoor, who is Puttur MLA.

He was addressing a press meet in the city on Tuesday.

“In the last five years, under the able leadership of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, the BJP has won seven Assembly constituencies, as well as seats in the Zilla Panchayat and 134 out of 230 gram panchayats in the district. The young voters and beneficiaries of various Central government sponsored programmes will support the BJP,” Matandoor expressed confidence.

With reference to the preparations for the elections, Matandoor said that 55 public programmes will be held in the district as a part of the campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address a rally in the district, he informed.

He said that the convention ‘Page Pramukhs’ (who are assigned one page of a voters’ list) will be held in all the eight constituencies in the district from March 28 to 30.

Visit houses

“The party workers will visit houses in each booth from April 3 to 5. A ‘Mahasampark Abhiyan’ will also be carried out across the district by the MP, MLAs and other elected representatives on April 7,” he added.

Matandoor said that voters will be reached out from April 8 to 14. Another round of a ‘Mahasampark Abhiyan’ will be organised on April 14. A road show will be organised in different parts of the district on April 15 and 16.

Further, he said that the achievement of the incumbent MP and the failures of the coalition government in Karnataka will be placed before the voters.

Matandoor accused Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of misusing the power. “Some officials are used for his benefit. The Election Commission should take note of it and initiate action,” he added.

‘Development affected’

On the failure of the coalition government, Matandoor said that development had come to a standstill.

“Grants under MLALAD have not been released so far. Even the funds to the Coastal Development Authority, the Malnad Area Development Board and the CM Sadak Yojana have not been released so far. In addition, the Ashraya Samithi, the Akrama Sakrama Samithi, the Aaradhana Samithi, and the Land Tribunal have not been constituted in the state,” he alleged.

“In the last 10 months, the coalition government is on a ‘ventilator’ in Karnataka. Although the Congress has fielded a youth, in-fight in the party and difference of opinions among senior Congress members will help the BJP win the elections,” the district president stated.