Nayana J C

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 14: Tension has surfaced within the local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Mangaluru after party workers reportedly expressed dissatisfaction against Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta over the ongoing accident issues on National Highway 169 near Bannadka in Moodbidri.

The controversy arose after Sooraj Jain Marnad and a team of local BJP leaders met the MP to raise concerns about repeated accidents on the stretch connecting Mangaluru and Karkala. According to the leaders, the incomplete highway works and the absence of a service road have led to a series of accidents, claiming eight lives over the past three years and causing nearly 20 reported accidents in the area.

In a social media post, Sooraj Jain alleged that the delegation was treated disrespectfully during the meeting and claimed that the MP responded casually to their concerns in the presence of highway officials. He stated that the leaders had approached the MP requesting immediate intervention and a site visit to assess the situation.

The delegation alleged that the MP questioned whether the highway construction itself could be blamed for the accidents and reportedly stated that constructing a service road before the completion of the project was not possible. The highway work, they noted, may take at least two more years to complete, raising fears of more accidents if immediate safety measures are not implemented.

The issue has triggered public anger in Bannadka, where residents and auto-rickshaw drivers have raised concerns over the increasing number of accidents on the highway stretch. Local citizens have reportedly blamed the ongoing road works and inadequate safety arrangements for the recurring mishaps.

The incident has also sparked a debate on social media, with several users criticising the alleged response of the MP and calling for urgent action to improve road safety in the area. The matter has now become a point of discussion within local BJP circles, as party workers themselves have openly voiced dissatisfaction over the handling of the public grievance.