Sorake lost the battle against money power – BA

Sorake lost the battle against money power – Billava Association

Udupi: “Sorake has lost in the battle because of money power. The ire of Billava community is an indication to Siddaramaiah led Congress government that cabinet reshuffle is making way for a ‘Congress-mukth’ DK-Udupi in the forthcoming 2018 assembly polls.” With Vinay Kumar Sorake’s ouster from the cabinet, Billava Associations are gearing up to stage their ire against the Congress regime. In a meeting organised at Shree Vishwanatha Kshetra, Katpadi Billava Associations have expressed their ire over Sorake’s ouster from the cabinet and have warned of withdrawing support in the next assembly elections.

“The Billava community decides the party’s fortune in the assembly polls. With Sorake’s ouster from the cabinet, the community feels that it has been betrayed. The community has Billava political leaders like Gopal Poojary and Vasanth Bangera who are also aspirants for the ministerial posts. The community remained satisfied with Vinay Kumar Sorake’s induction in the cabinet as Minister for Urban development,” they said.

Leaders also said that Sorake’s ouster from the cabinet was a surprise move, but the Congress regime could have either inducted Gopal Poojary or Vasanth Bangera to the cabinet. “The Congress has betrayed the Billava community which has been loyal to the party during crucial times. The Billava community has supported the victory of 3 MLAs from the Billava community representing Congress but the Congress does not seem to be satisfied.”

The association stated that Sorake should be inducted back into the ministry, otherwise the Billava community would “teach Congress a lesson” in the assembly polls in 2018. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should reconsider his decision on the ouster of Vinay Kumar Sorake and induct him or other Billava MLAs to the cabinet. When there was no Congress MLA in Udupi, the district Billava community had joined hands with the Congress party to have Vinay Kumar Sorake and Gopal Poojary win. Janardhan Poojary has effectively worked towards the Congress party and he deserves a good role in Congress at the centre. The Congress regime should reconsider its decision to avoid an embarrassing defeat in 2018 polls in undivided Dakshina Kannada.

The lobbying for ministerial posts seems to have sidelined Sorake. The loyalty to the party has been weighed by financial dealings, they alleged.

“Oscar Fernandes needs leaders who can act according to his whims and fancies. He is obsessed with leaders who work for the party,” said Harikrishna Bantwal, accusing the senior Congress leader of being responsible for Vinay Kumar Sorake’s ouster from the state cabinet.

Vishwanatha Kshetra president Ashok Suvarna, Shekar Karkera, Ravi Poojary, Harishchandra Amin, Madhav R Palan, SK Salian, Girish Kumar, Uday, Shekar, Shivaji Suvarna and others were present.