Mangaluru
The BJP administration in the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has been accused of failing to address key concerns of the public. Opposition leader Praveen Chandra Alva stated that the council, under BJP’s leadership, has been unable to resolve issues such as increased property tax, water bill discrepancies, the incomplete implementation of Smart City projects, and unfinished market complexes. Other unaddressed concerns include the Jalasiri 24×7 drinking water scheme, housing, and general development works.
Alva criticized Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur, stating that his contributions to the city have been negligible. Alva also accused the BJP of attempting to disrupt council meetings to hide their failures. It was claimed that the Mayor displayed a dictatorial attitude by not allowing the opposition to speak during the council meeting. Instead, he used the time to present his achievements, which Alva viewed as a tactic to divert attention from administrative shortcomings.
Alva further pointed out that the Mayor broke tradition by not inviting opposition leaders and senior corporators to his chamber after the adjournment of the council meeting. The lack of development during Shetty’s tenure was emphasized, with specific mention of the ongoing issues such as the overflow of underground drains, increased property tax, and discrepancies in water supply bills. Additionally, it was highlighted that no new houses have been granted to the poor in the last four years, despite nearly 5,000 pending applications.
