Udupi: MLC and KPCC Vice-President Ivan D’Souza has alleged that the BJP-led Central government is using the Election Commission as a political tool to remove genuine voters from electoral rolls under the pretext of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Addressing a press conference at the Udupi Congress Bhavan on Tuesday, D’Souza accused the government of attempting to take away the voting rights of genuine voters with the aim of gaining electoral advantage.

He alleged that BLOs and other officials were being pressured to remove the names of eligible voters from the electoral rolls. He claimed that pressure was particularly being applied to exclude voters belonging to minority communities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections.

D’Souza further alleged that Form 7 was being misused to challenge the names of eligible voters and make them ineligible to vote.

He criticised the BJP for allegedly turning a constitutional institution like the Election Commission into a political weapon. He said the Congress would oppose any move that affects the voting rights of genuine citizens.

READ MORE:Will ‘Premada Oorali’ Join the List of Kannada Cinema’s Most Profitable Hits?

Congress leaders Kishan Hegde Kolkebailu, Ashok Kumar Kodavoor and Abdul Rauf, among others, were present at the press conference.

Udupi: BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal joined a traditional tiger dance performance during a Ganesh idol immersion procession in Brahmavar.

Yatnal took part in the tiger dance ritual organised by Waramballi Friends. The event was held as part of the Brahmavar public Ganeshotsava immersion procession.

Yatnal watched the special tiger dance performance with interest. He then joined the tiger-costumed performers and danced to the beats of the traditional taase drums.

READ MORE: Rs.350 Crore Sewerage Upgrade Proposed for Mangaluru

Yatnal also performed a few steps along with the tiger dancers. His participation attracted the attention of people gathered at the event.

Mangaluru: Former minister B. Ramanath Rai has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to hold a Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru on September 18.

The meeting will be held at the Praja Soudha in Padil, which houses the Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Rai said he was happy that the Cabinet meeting would take place at the Praja Soudha. He expressed hope that several long-standing issues in the coastal region would be discussed and resolved.

He said he was confident that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar would take steps to address the problems of the coastal region.

Rai also said the government should focus on strengthening weaker sections of society. He expressed hope that important decisions would be taken in this regard during the meeting.

Rai said the construction of the Praja Soudha had been one of his dreams. He recalled that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had provided major support for the project.

“Despite several hurdles, the Praja Soudha has finally been completed,” Rai said.

READ MORE:Minister Assures Focus on Breakwaters and Fisheries Development in Coastal Karnataka

He welcomed the decision to hold the Cabinet meeting at the same venue. He said it was a matter of happiness for him to see the building being used for such an important meeting.

Rai also recalled his efforts to raise the voice of the Koraga community and other weaker sections. He said he had taken up several issues concerning their welfare.

He further reiterated his demand to name Mangaluru International Airport after the legendary coastal warriors Koti and Chennaya.