Mangalore, Feb 21: Corporator Mohan Padil, whose name had cropped up in the infamous home stay attack at Padil last year, has resigned from BJP and joined JD(S).
Soon after he received a warm welcome to the JD(S) on Thursday February 21, Mohan Padil wasted no time in lamenting about BJP leaders’ ‘inefficiency’ in administration and slammed the district BJP leaders, who he held responsible for his decision.
“Although I was the corporator, I worked for the welfare of the poor people of our area. Our road was not repaired and due to the irresponsibility of contractors the earlier tarred road was getting worse. Hence I asked the MLA to sanction the funds for the road repair, which was not done for a long time. Now the fund has been sanctioned for repair but due to the election code of conduct it has been withheld,” he said.
“When I went with the complaint to the BJP leaders about the encroachment of the national highway in Alape by a high-profile man, the BJP leaders asked me not to interfere, as the man belonged to the party. Instead of giving justice, they silenced me and demanded that I should not raise the issue at the MCC meeting. This type of development and autocratic rule of BJP leaders hurt me and i decided to quit the party.”
When asked the name of the high-profile man, Mohan Padil revealed, “Dr Mohandas Bhandary encroached the land and he also installed a no-parking sign at the site.”
“I have worked for the needy people in my constituency, and Nagarika Horata Samiti and women’s unit made me join politics. Though I was defeated twice in the Alape ward, the third time I won the MCC election with 1,100 votes”.
Briefing the press meet, Nagaraj Shetty said, “This time for MCC elections, JD(S) will compete from all wards. Many party workers and leaders from other parties are choosing JD(S) for a clean and better governance. People are fed up with the atrocious rule of BJP and Congress, they have failed to provide basic facilities like water and roads.
“JD(S) has provided an opportunity to worthy candidates, who will serve the common man. The party has also prepared the manifesto focusing on the basic needs of common man. Within the next two days, the party will announce the candidates’ final list for the elections.”
JD(S) member Sadananda Shetty said, “My friends and well-wishers will lend their support to JD(S). People consider JD(S) as an eligible party to rule as compared to Congress and BJP. There are many candidates who are willing to contest in the elections but considering the caste, religion and supporters the ticket will be issued.”
Ganesh Mallya from Kavoor, Markada ward also joined the JD(S) on the occasion. “I have worked very hard for BJP and the Sangha Parivar but the BJP leaders supported Kishore Rai and Shivananda Sanil, who are working against the party. They even betrayed the party during the previous MCC elections, and as a result, I was defeated by 65 votes. When I complained about this issue to party leaders, they assured me that party would sack the betrayers but instead the leaders supported them. There is no place for honesty in BJP,” he said.
On the occasion Rohan D’Silva, Umesh Kunjathbail, K P Jagadish, N P Narayana also joined the JD(S).
M G Hegde, Sushil Noronha, Aslam, Vasanth Poojary, Gopal, Shashiraj Shetty, Sudharshan Shetty, Basheer, Akshith Suvarna were present on the occasion.
Mohan Padil will compete in the MCC elections from the same constituency, this time under the symbol of JD(S).
