Mangaluru: MP Nalin Kumar Kateel held a press meet at the BJP office, near PVScircle here, on December 5.
Addressing the mediapersons, Nalin Kumar Kateel said that the nomination filing process for the upcoming MLC elections in the state is on. “From DK and Udupi districts, we have already announced Kota Srinivas Poojaryas our candidate. There are 6513 voters in DK and Udupi, out of which BJP has 3500 voters. We have taken all the measures for the election. Preparations are underway and the nomination will be filed on December 7. The Congress will not succeed in the election this time while BJP will surely win the MLC election. On December 20, the campaign will begin and Yeddyurappa will visit DK and Udupi districts for campaigning. The BJP will take this election as a challenge and we will win it.”
He also said that there is confusion in the Congress party regarding the selection of candidates for the MLC election. “Four aspirants are fighting for one seat while the BJP has already announced candidates for 12 seats across the state,” he added.
He further said that the BJP will oppose the Yettinahole project. “On December 4, CM Siddaramaiah has called for a meeting but we are not aware of it. Siddaramaiah has showed special interest in continuing the project. We will continue to protest against the project. We are not against the government for providing water to Kolar; our concern is that the government should find a permanent solution in this regard.”
When asked about Eshwarappa supporting Congress to continue the project, Kateel replied that Eshwarappa did not support the continuation of the project. “Instead Eshwarappa has advised to find a permanent solution to provide water. We will raise Yettinahole river diversion project issue in the Lok Sabha. We have already sent a memorandum to the environment Minister Prakash Javdekar and Water Resource Minister Uma Bharati, not to sanction any funds for the project. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has heard the voice of the people of DK and he is afraid of them. He is in a hurry to continue the project but we will not allow it.”
State BJP General Secretary Nirmal Kumar Surana, Kota Srinivas Poojary, MP ShobhaKarandlaje, Monappa Bhandary, Pratap Simha Nayak and others were also present.