By Team Mangalorean
Photographs: Rajesh Shetty

Karnataka Assembly Elections 2008 - Complete Coverage

MANGALORE, April 28, 2008: This election has seen all. First it was the drama of re-joining the parties that the estranged leaders had given a mouthful read as Rukmaya Poojary and K. Jayaram Shetty of BJP after it was the drama in Puttur where Shakuntala had been denied the ticket and she started abusing BJP and now Suresh Ballal reconciling with the party candidate Ivan D’Souza.
 
Ballal was once thought to be a man of high standards in politics and was considered to be a gentleman politician. He always stood above petty considerations including seat for contesting elections. But this time he has shown uncharacteristic political behavior. He has announced today that he will support the candidature of Ivan D’Souza after opposing his candidature for the last 20 days since the candidate selection for Mangalore was wrought in one controversy after another for congress party.
 
Mr. Ballal wanted the ticket for himself but the party decided that Ivan was better equipped to win the party ticket and also could give the BJP run for its money.

Mr. Ballal today made it clear that he would finally be the party’s worker and will support Mr. D’Souza’s candidature. It comes as a relief to the Congress party as Mr. Ballal could have tilted the fortunes of Congress had he decided to contest from either on JDS ticket or as an independent. The advantage could have easily gone to BJP.
 
The Congress leadership which rushed to the aid of Ivan D’Souza could save a severe embarrassment to the party. Had Mr. Ballal joined some other party or had he decided to contest independently the election would have been over even before it began for the Congress feels the Congressmen. But now with Mr. Ballal affirming his loyalty to the party that storm had blown away.

Congress office opened - Candidates file nominations

MANGALORE: The Congress election machinery has come alive with the opening of the office at Balmatta road. The office is situated at a place that belongs to the family of Congress candidate U.T.Khader from Mangalore South.
 
The office was inaugurated by the Mangalore South Constituency Mr. Ivan D’Souza. B.A. Mohideen senior Congress leader, Mohammad Masood former chairman of the minority commission were present on the occasion.

Later Mr. Ivan D’Souza proceeded to the to DC office to file his nominations before the Returning officer of the constituency Kaushik Shukla. Similarly Candidate for the Mangalore North constituency Ahmed Bawa also filed his nomination. He arrived dramatically in an autorikshaw accompanied by the former MLA of Surathkal K.Vijayakumar Shetty.
 
U.T. Khadar candidate of the Mangalore constituency (formerly Ullal) filed his nominations. He was accompanied by U.K. Monu of Kanachur and Dinakar Ullal.
 
Some youth owing loyalty to the Youth Congress president Jagannath Shetty Bondala raised pro Shetty slogans and wanted the party to give Mr. Shetty a ticket to contest from Puttur.

Karnataka Assembly Elections 2008 - Complete Coverage