BJP list fails to give due representation to minorities

BJP list fails to give due representation to minorities

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Feb 23, 2013: The BJP which has announced its candidates for 56 out of the 60 wards in the Mangalore City Corporation, has given representation to a minority candidate in only one ward.

The only Muslim candidate of the BJP is Anwar Reeko from Ward No. 43 Kudroli. No Christian candidate has got a place in the BJP list this time while it had fielded three Christians in the 2007 elections.

In fact in the last elections, the lone Muslim candidate from the BJP was Abdul Aziz from Ward No. 5 Katipalla North. However, he had lost the elections. This time too the party has chosen to give representation to only one candidate.

During the last election, the party had fielded Clifford Lobo from Ward no. 11 Panambur Bengre, Franklin Monteiro from Derebail North (No. 17) and James D’Souza from Maroli, ward no. 37. Though Clifford had won, he had quit the party recently. Of the four BJP mayors, only one-Ganesh Hosabettu has been given a chance to contest this time.

District BJP President Padmanabha Kottari says the candidates were chosen after duly taking into consideration the opinion of party workers.