Mangalore : The Congress Party which has fielded its candidates in all the 60 wards for the Mangalore City Corporation elections slated to be held on March 7, has struck a note of confidence. The party is sure of a win this time and is confident of a  comeback . The  several drawbacks of the BJP administration in the MCC, have proved a plus point for the Congress which is claiming that there is a pro-Congress wave and an anti-incumbency wave in the city.

Already several party stalwarts prominently senior leader and former union minister B Janardhan Poojari have rigorously campaigned for the party and have  promised that the Congress would not increase the property tax for the next five years.  The Party Manifesto  also ensures a clean and good administration and promises to take the city on the path of progress and make it the second Silicon Valley of the state.

Deepak G Rao (46, Cantonment Ward)

The Congress has fielded Deepak G Rao, a promising candidate from the prominent 46 Cantonment Ward of the Mangalore city Corporation.

 Rao, a sincere Congress worker points out at the several developments that took place during the BJP rule in the MCC have  brought harm to the reputation and image of the city and dented it beyond repair. The Mangalore City Corporation administration has failed to live upto the expectations due to misrule, corruption and favouritism, he points out and adds  various parts of the city have been deprived of basic amenities for lack of will power of the administrators.

He says the congress Parity if elected to power would ensure that  all basic facilities are provided  and the  new building of the Ladygoschen Hospital is completed at the earliest. Stating that during the BJP rule, the several amenities which were otherwise provided to SC ST beneficiaries had been cut down, he said the Congress if elected was committed to provide better amenities and schemes for the welfare of the weaker and downtrodden sections of the society.

The BJP government has also failed to maintain cleanliness in the city he alleges  and promises that every effort would be made to maintain cleanliness and make Mangalore a beautiful, clean and flourishing city, if the Congress was elected to power.

Ramachandra M,  (23, Derebail East Ward)

Ramachandra M is a dedicated Congress worker contesting from Derebail East Ward. He has the experience of serving as a Corporator for two terms. He was first elected as Corporator in the first Mangalore city Corporation elections held in 1984. To him is the credit of changing the entire scenario of the ward. Known as MR in his ward, Ramachandra is an influential leader of the Billawa community.

When he first became the corporator of the then  Ward 5 (present Derebail East) there were just 50 electric poles which rose to 1500 poles when he completed his five year tenure. He was instrumental in the overall development of the ward and also in laying the Kottara Chowki-Malemar Konchady-Yeyyadi link road. The Parapade Government Higher Primary School was also set up with his initiative.

If elected, he assures to strive for the overall development of the ward irrespective of caste and creed,

Mahabala Marla -22 Kadri Padavu Ward

Mahabala Marla, the Congress candidate from Kadri Padavu 22 Ward is a very promising candidate who is known for his active work in various fields.  He has already made a name in the field of social service activities.

If elected Marla promises to work for the overall development of the constituency and  ensure a honest administration. A good sportsman as well as a sports patron, he has the experience of serving as the President of the MCC standing Committee on Health and Planning.

Kavitha Sanil (19 Pachanady Ward)

 The Congress candidate from Pachanady Ward is Kavitha Sanil who is one of the active Women Congress workers  in the past few years. Kavitha Sanil says she has the confidence of further promoting the development of the ward if given another opportunity to serve,

Kavitha Sanil  was elected from Marakada Ward in the 2002  elections  and had also served as the Standing Committee President on Urban Development. An outstanding sports woman and a power lifter, she is also the recipient of Rajyotsava Award.

Kavitha says her ward’s development will be her motto if elected . She says provision of good underground drainage,  construction of good roads, top priority to cleanliness and good maintenance of street lights would be given importance by her.

Ganesh -29 Kambla Ward

A dedicated and sincere Congress worker Ganesh is the party candidate from 29 Kambla ward. A resident of Ballalbagh,  he has always maintained a close rapport with people of his area and   has been in the lead in helping the electorate whenever they were in need of help in availing pension and other government facilities. He is also serving as the  General Secretary of the Block 1 of the  Congress and points out that his sincere service has been rewarded by giving him a chance to contest from Kambla ward.

He assures to work for the development of the ward if elected to power.

Shashidhar Hegde –(17 Derebail North Ward)

Shashidhar Hegde who has the experience of serving as Mayor of Mangalore  and as a corporator, is this time contesting as Congress candidate from Derebail North Ward. This powerful candidate of the Congress has brought shivers to his rival candidates who fear failure once again.

Shashidhar Hegde is known to be a vociferous speaker and always been  in the lead in raising issues of civic importance at MCC Council  meetings. His opponents fall silent whenever he stands up to speak at the MCC meets.

Shashidhar Hegde has won by a significant margin in the last elections and this time his margin is expected to rise much more than that.

To him is the credit of putting a full stop to several of the problems of his ward. He is also actively involved in various social religious and political activities in the area.

Popular as Shashianna in his ward, the admiration which people of his constituency  have for him will be evident if anyone takes a round of his constituency. Today, he is all set to get re-elected once again and live upto the  expectations of the people of his constituency.

Lancelot Pinto (31 Bejai Ward)

Lancelot Pinto who  is contesting from Bejai ward for the sixth successive time, has the experience of serving as Deputy Mayor. He  strongly believes that  Words are better than Deeds.  Lancelot Pinto always aspires to work for the overall development of his constituency and ensure that all amenities are in place.

He has the confidence that he has strived his level best for the progress of his ward. He aims to make his ward a model ward by ensuring regular water supply, good roads pathways, side drains, underground drainage, development of modern markets and above all top priority to cleanliness.

 Ashok Kumar DK (33 Kadri South)

Ashok Kumar, the sitting corporator from the Kadri South Ward has been given another opportunity to contest from the prestigious ward.

He says he is  happy to say that he has been successful in fulfilling the aspirations and providing basic amenities. He says he has worked  for the progress of the ward irrespective of caste or community affiliations.

As a Congress candidate from the prestigious ward, Ashok Kumar who is now seeking a re-election, while  requesting the voters to elect him assures to  work further for the betterment of the ward.

Praveen Chandra Alva (49 Kankanady B Ward)

An active Congress worker, Praveenchandra Alva,  is the Congress candidate from 49 Kankanady ‘B’ Ward. A graduate in Arts,  Alva has been associated  with the Youth Congress  after his studies and has served as the President of the Mangalore South constituency unit of the Youth Congress and has been actively involved in various social and welfare activities.

As a party candidate from Kankanady ‘B’ Ward, Alva promises to strive for the overall development of the ward if elected. He also  assures to respond to the  aspirations of the  people of the ward and to carry forward the good works done by the earlier Congress corporators of this ward namely B Vishwanath and Sesamma who has even served as the  Deputy Mayor.

Deepak  K Poojari,  18 Kavoor Ward

Deepak K Poojari, a two time corporator from 18 Kavoor ward, has been given another chance to contest for the third time this year. A  sincere Congress worker, Deepak Poojari has earned a good name for himself in the social, religious and educational field by rendering his services to the best of his capabilities. He also says with pride that he has helped many people of his ward n availing government schemes like Sandhya Suraksha and pension FO handicapped and widows.

Seeking full support of the electorateo f his ward, Deepak Poojari assures to solve all the problems of his ward if elected to power. He says he would make a good study of the problems of his ward and would respond to the aspirations of the people and make Kavoor ward a  model ward and a better place to live.

Bhasker K (26 Padavu Ward)

Bhasker K, the Congress candidate from Padavu ward is contesting from the ward for the third successive time and is a popular elected representative of the area who has the satisfaction of working for the progress of his ward.

He has also the satisfaction of ensuring good basic amenities to his ward and has also tried to feel the pulse of the people and has  actively involved in various activities, both social, religion and political. He has also strived to strengthen the youth force and promote peace and amity.

Now with him contesting for the third time, Bhasker promises that he is committed to work for all areas in his ward prominently the Kudupu village, Mangalanagar, Paldane and Kelarai  areas included in the ward last time.