Mangaluru: 90% members of ward panels belong to BJP, says ex-MLA J R Lobo

MANGALURU:  Dakshina Kannada district Congress has criticized the draft list of ward committees published by Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on Monday, accusing them of subscribing to the ruling party’s will. On Wednesday, former MLA J R Lobo mocked the draft, alleging that the list looked as if the commissioner had been coerced into including 90% of the 600 people from the BJP in the 60 ward committees. “This is in violation of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Act of 2011,” he said, and accused the local MLA of putting pressure on the commissioner. The MCC received more than 1,200 applications from residents seeking to serve on ward committees in 60 wards. Lobo questioned the Commissioner, asking why almost 600 applications were rejected without any rationale, thus violating the principles of natural justice.