Mangalore : The Assembly election campaign of the Congress party was launched at a mega convention held at Nehru Maidan in Mangalore on March 18, Monday in the presence of a host of party leaders.

Senior Leaders B Janardhan Poojari, Union Petroleum Minister Veerappa Moily, Rajya Sabha Member Oscar Fernandes and several leaders were present.

Speaking on the occasion, Veerappa Moily said he was elated over the performance of the congress in the recently held elections to the local administrative bodies and hoped the party would keep up its performance in the next assembly elections too.

He called upon party workers to put up a united front and work for the success of the party.

The party leadership also administered oath to the newly elected representatives to serve the society with dedication and live upto the expectations of the electorate.

Senior leader Oscar Fernandes who also spoke said the party will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling the promises made in the election manifesto.

District Congress President B Ramanatha Rai presided over the function. Several leaders including  Jayaprakash Hedge, Abhayachandra Jain, Vinay Kumar Sorake, K S Mohammed Masood, U T Khader, Mithun Rai, Moideen Bawa, Vasanth V Salian, Shakunthala Shetty, Mamatha Gatty, Vijay Kumar Shetty, J R Lobo, Ashith Pereira, Arun Coelho, G A Bawa, Gafoor, Padmanabh Naringana, Ibrahim Kodijal, B H Khader, Sadashiva Ullal, Sriram Patje, Ashraf, Ivan D’Souza, Nagendra and others were present on the dais.

Oscar Fernandes said, “Congress manifesto shouldn’t remain as just a manifesto, appropriate steps have to be taken to fulfill the promises. All the newly-elected city corporators have enhanced the image of Congress. The ULB results are a clarion call to prepare for the upcoming legislative assembly elections,” he said.

The programme was presided over by B Ramanath Rai, who welcomed the huge gathering. Ibrahim Kodijal proposed the vote of thanks.