Kumar said that he had tried and failed to reach the KPCC president but could contact his office staff who had no idea about the decision. “When I approached District Minister in-charge, Ramanath Rai, he said that nobody could be selected as the block president without his prior knowledge. District Committee in-charge, Ibrahim Kodijal and KPCC Secretary, MLC Ivan D’Souza were clueless and said that an elected block president can only be changed after holding an election. I have also met Balakrishna Shetty who has a similar view,” he added.
Kumar Further said, “Under my presidency, the MSBCC has won 12 out of 18 seats in the city corporation elections held in the past 3 to 5 years. I have been in constant touch with the party members and have held monthly block meetings. My activities have been highly praised by the Party District President and other leaders.”
He said that all office bearers were elected by the block members and never nominated. There was no reason for him being removed from the post of the block president. “There are no complaints against me, I have been active in the party activities, I have not been involved in any anti party activities,” he said.
He said that he belonged to the Balyaya community, which was a backward class. The senior leaders had selected him and his wife as corporators because of the reservation. “Now if I am removed from the post of the president without any notification, then it will be an insult for my community and the entire backward class. It is not possible for the Congress Party to remove an elected president. We have received about 200 books from the district Congress for the upcoming elections and the work of filing nomination has already begun. Till the elections are over, I will continue to serve as the President of MSBCC,” he said.
Abubaker Bajal, Shafi Ahmed Bolar, Walter Lobo, Janardhan Suvarna, Harish Kumble, John Suresh and others were also present.