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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Haryana Congress expels 13 for contesting assembly polls as independents
Chandigarh (PTI): The Haryana unit of Congress on Friday expelled thirteen party leaders for "anti-party activities" over their decision to contest as independent candidates against the party's official picks for the assembly polls.
They were being expelled for six years with immediate effect to curb indiscipline in the party, the Congress said.
Naresh Dhande (Guhla SC seat), Pardeep Gill (Jind), Sajjan Singh Dhull (Pundri), Sunita Battan (Pundri), Rajiv Mamuram Gondar (Nilokheri-SC), Dayal Singh Sirohi (Nilokheri-SC), Vijay Jain (Panipat Rural), Dilbag Sandil (Uchana Kalan), Ajit Phogat (Dadri), Abhijeet Singh (Bhiwani), Satbir Ratera (Bawani Khera-SC), Nitu Mann (Prithla) and Anita Dhull Badsikri (Kalayat) have been expelled as per a party order issued by Congress state unit chief Udai Bhan.
Notably, there were many party leaders who were upset over being denied tickets to contest the October 5 Haryana Assembly polls, but the party had later managed to pacify most of them.
For the Congress, senior leader and former minister Sampat Singh had withdrawn his nomination from Nalwa seat after filing papers while another leader Ram Kishen 'Fauji' also withdrew from the race from Bawani Khera segment.
From Ambala City, former MLA Jasbir Malaur withdrew from the contest against Congress's nominee and former minister Nirmal Singh.
However, Nirmal Singh's daughter, Chitra Sarwara, a Congress rebel, is contesting from Ambala Cantt seat. The party has already taken action against her.
