Congress’ first list of candidates: Party has been unjust to Billava applicants, says pontiff
Mangaluru: Pranavananda Swami, the pontiff of the Brahmashri Narayana Guru Shakti Peetha, has said that the Congress, which released its first list of candidates for the 2023 Assembly elections in the state, has been unjust towards Billavas.
Speaking to reporters at a private hotel in Mangaluru, the pontiff said, “We had asked the Congress, the BJP as well as the JD(S) to give tickets to 10 Billavas in the entire state, not only in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Yet, the Congress, which released its first list, has fielded only six people from the community,” adding that the community hoped the names of the rest four will be added in the second list of the Congress.
“If the community is neglected, if our demands are not met with regard to the election tickets, we will be forced to fight back, regardless of the party,” he warned.
“We find no improvement in the Congress’ treatment of Billavas, as only one Billava candidate in Dakshina Kannada has been given ticket, just as before. We need elected representatives in at least two more constituencies. As many as 11 people of our community had applied for ticket, including a lady. While the lady has striven for the progress of the Billava community, we do not focus on a particular individual but stress that any strong contender from the community may be given ticket,” the pontiff clarified.
It is especially unjust of Congress party, which has been laying stress on social justice, to have sidelined the Billava community, said Pranavananda Swami, adding that ensuring the victory of a candidate is the responsibility of the community members.
The pontiff further warned that state government, led by the BJP, will face problems if it fails to take a firm decision in the next couple of days regarding the fulfillment of demands of Billavas, including funds for the Brahmashri Narayana Nigama.
He, however, refused to comment on whether the community would support a party that fielded the maximum number of Billava candidates. “Hopefuls who lost their money after applying for ticket are terribly disappointed. We will discuss such matters with them too, before taking a decision,” he added.
Billava leaders Jithendra Suvarna, Suresh Chandra Kotian and Lokanath Poojary were also present on the occasion.
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BJP will form govt in Bengal with thumping majority: Nabin
Mirzapur (UP) (PTI): BJP president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday voiced confidence that his party will form the government in West Bengal with a "thumping majority".
Polling is underway for 142 constituencies in the second and final phase of the West Bengal assembly elections, covering key districts, including Kolkata, Howrah and North and South 24 Parganas.
The high-stakes contest is being seen as decisive for the ruling TMC's bid for a fourth consecutive term and the BJP's push to form its first government in the state. The first phase held on April 23 recorded a high voter turnout of over 93 per cent, reflecting intense electoral engagement.
Speaking to reporters in Mirzapur, Nabin said, "The BJP will form the government in Bengal. We are winning the elections with a massive majority."
Earlier in the day, the BJP chief visited the Vindhyavasini temple and offered prayers. The rituals were conducted by his priest Acharya Agastya Kumar Dwivedi.
On his first visit to the district after assuming office, Nabin was welcomed by party workers at several places. At the temple, he was received by city MLA Ratnakar Mishra and District Magistrate Pawan Kumar Gangwar, who felicitated him with a traditional 'angvastram'.
After offering prayers for about 10 minutes amid Vedic chants, Nabin held a meeting at a hotel with local MLAs, including Mishra, Majhwan MLA Suchismita Maurya and Madihan MLA Ramashankar Patel.
Patel said Nabin emphasised strengthening the organisation and asked public representatives to focus on serving people in their respective constituencies.
Several party leaders, including district president Lal Bahadur Saroj, district vice-president Gaurav Umar, municipal chairperson Shyam Sundar Kesari, women workers and senior officials, were present on the occasion.
Elaborate security arrangements were put in place by the district administration for the visit, with multiple officers of circle officer rank deployed, officials said.
