Let our newly elected MLAs be Role Models

Let our newly elected MLAs be Role Models

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 25, 2013: The election fever has ended. The results are out and a new government has been formed under the leadership of senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah. The Congress has regained its hold over DK and Udupi districts by winning a total of ten out of the 13 seats. It is a clean sweep for the Congress in Mangalore, Mangalore South and Mangalore North constituencies. Excluding Mangalore, the other two constituencies were held by BJP representatives for four and two terms respectively.

 

The newly elected representatives of the three constituencies in Mangalore have onerous responsibility on their shoulders. The city of Mangalore though claims itself to be a developed city, the grim fact remains that it lacks some of the most basic amenities. Right from a full-fledged bus stand to a more  spacious market building, the city lacks  many things. The new elected representatives should be keen on pursuing these issues.

Mangalore South MLA  JR Lobo has already stated that he would work towards  implementing a full-fledged bus stand project for Mangalore as well as a modern market building. Both the projects have been in the limbo since long. Mangalore’s roads though concretised, many of them are devoid of  footpaths and the MLA has also promised the same and  has assured to work towards that direction at the earliest.

The second Thumbay vented dam project is another project that calls for urgent attention. Though much was talked about regarding the early completion of the project by the erstwhile MLA, there had been no concerted efforts  and the estimated cost of the project too has escalated.
The newly elected representative need to ensure that the work is completed on a war footing so that the water problem of the city is  solved. He has already promised to work towards that direction.

If the above are infrastructural issues, another social issue that needs urgent attention is that of promoting peace and amity particularly in the backdrop of a spate of vigilante attacks as well as atrocities on minorities reported from the region during the past five years in the so called Hindutva laboratory of the Sangh Parivar. JR Lobo has given an assurance in this direction too and has  said that no scope would be given for moral policing.

The Mangalore constituency being represented by UT Khader of Congress for the third successive term in a row, is considered a communally sensitive constituency and moreover faces problem of acute sea erosion during monsoon.A permanent solution to the problem though has been in the offing since long, so far there have been only empty promises. As an MLA of the constituency since ten years, he needs to at least now make concerted efforts towards solving the problem which has been giving sleepless nights to thousands of families. Maintenance of communal harmony in the region also needs top most priority.

The Mangalore North constituency is also one of the prestigious constituencies which has selected a Congress candidate this time. This is also a communally sensitive area which also has several mega projects like MRPL, MCF within its limits. There has been a complaint since long that several remote areas of the constituency have seen no development.The new MLA has the responsibility of promoting amity and brotherhood while also trying to feel the pulse of the people and work towards fulfillment of their demands.

Certainly, it is time for jubilation for the Congress camp, but jubilation alone cannot help and the party needs to chalk out a strategy to oversee the functioning of its newly elected representatives in all the constituencies of the district and ensure that they maintain a close rapport with the electorate and always be their voice in the Assembly. Let them not repeat the mistakes of the BJP, but learn from their mistakes and be role model MLAs.