Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Apr 23: In a morale booster for the Congress, thousands turned out for the Janashirvada rally jointly organised by district Block Congress committee and Brahmavar Block Congress committee at Royal Garden, Kalsanka here on Sunday, April 23.

Addressing the gathering, district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj said, "I experienced defeat in 2004 and 2008 elections. I was never dejected. I have served people spending money from my own pocket. I am satisfied with my work. I was with people when I suffered failure. Later, I won with a majority of votes in 2013 against Sudhakar Shetty. It was the result of my sincere service.

"I would not say that I have accomplished all that I had promised earlier, but most of the works that I set out to do have been completed. I have worked hard for the development of Udupi. I brought huge funds from the state government. All that is pending will be completed in the next five years. There are problems like 94c and 94cc, akrama-sakrama land issue, CRZ, providing sites for middle class families and others. I will sort out all these problems in the coming days.

"Varahi drinking water project construction work at a total cost of Rs 270 crore has been undertaken by the state government. Surrounding villages will get water 365 days of the year. Multi-village drinking water supply project has also been undertaken at Varamballi, Thenkanidiyur and Chantharu village at total cost Rs 102 crore.

"There are 213 booths in Udupi. I will conduct booth level meeting in the coming days in the presence of concerned officials to get immediate solution for problems. Responsibility of making us win the state assembly elections is on public. Congress supporters should motivate other voters to cast their vote. If it is done by supporters, there is no doubt that Congress will come to power. If I win the election, I will work even more sincerely and honestly for the welfare of public,” he said.

Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake said, "This programme is organised to get the blessings of people. Madhwaraj family has received love and confidence of common people. Pramod Madhwaraj grew up in a prestigious family. He won the 2013 state assembly election with a majority of 40,000 votes. He got into the cabinet because of his hard work. The Congress government in the state restarted many works, which were not completed by the earlier government.

"Pramod implemented government programmes in Udupi by organising door-to-door visit campaign. He introduced new sports policy, and constructed a new hi-tech hospital in Udupi city under public-private participation. Through this, he kept alive the name of late Haji Abdullah,” he said.

Sorake assured that he would work for the overall development of Kaup. He also said that Pramod had paid the pending amount of Rs 12.5 crore to help Brahmavar sugar factory employees.

"Sometimes God makes people to reveal truth. National BJP president Amit Shah said that BJP government led by Yeddyurappa is corrupt.

"BJP made many false promises during election. No one gets benefits from the central government. MP Shobha Karandlaje never came in contact of the voters after winning the MP seat. She has no moral right to talk. Their government promised of bringing back black money from Swiss Bank which is not yet fulfilled. Where is Jandhan scheme now? Where is the deposit amount of Rs 5,000? Businessmen like Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya took heavy loans from banks and are now settled in foreign countries.

"Let all support us to establish a strong Congress fort in Udupi," Sorake urged the audience.

Several rebel BJP party members joined Congress in the public meeting.

Congress MLC Pratapchandra Shetty and M N Rajendra Kumar, chairman of Dakshina Kannada Credit Cooperative Bank also spoke on the occasion.

Congress district president Janardhan Thonse welcomed and presided over the programme.

Brahmavar block Congress committee president Harady Nityananda Shetty delivered the key note address.

M A Gafoor, chairman of state minority commission, Amrith Shenoy, president of Congress promotion campaign committee, Muniyalu Uday Shetty, vice-president of district Congress committee, Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje, CMC president, Veronica Cornelio, secretary of KPCC, Prakyat Shetty of backward class development committee, Sarala Kanchan of Mahila Okkuta, Christon Almeida, NSUI, district president, Vishwas Amin of Congress youth wing and others were present.

Satish Kodavoor compered the programme.

Udupi Block Congress president Satish Amin Paduker rendered the vote of thanks.