BJP, Congress fight for control of local governance

Bengaluru, 27 May 2018 [Fik/News Sources]: With the BJP grabbing 12 of the 13 assembly constituencies in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, the saffron party is trying to consolidate its hold on their local administration by keeping the Congress at bay. 

On the other hand, the  sidelined Congress leaders, are hoping the new coalition government in the state will give them some leverage still and control of local government departments.

“People of the coastal region have rejected the Congress and backed the BJP.  But with the JD(S) and Congress forming a government, we know that Congress leaders will try their best to have a say in every government department  However, we will not allow this,” asserted BJP spokesperson and former MLC, Monappa Bhandary.

Maintaining that the BJP leaders were only willing to “tolerate” interference in local administration by Congress MLA, U.T. Khader, who  has won from the region, he added,  “Besides him we cannot allow any other former MLA, who was defeated in the recent election or other Congress leaders to intervene in the administration. Our MLAs have been voted to power  and they must now have all the say.”