Mangaluru: Two prominent leaders of Bunt community- Maladi Ajith Kumar Rai and Sureshchandra Shetty are contesting for the President’s post of the Buntara Yane Nadavara Mathru Sangha (BANMS). The elections will be held at the premises of Ramakrishna College on December 8.
It is said that there are two factions exiting inside the Association- one of the outgoing president of Mathru Sangha Maladi Ajith Kumar Rai and second of educationist and International Bunts Welfare Trust President A Sadananda Shetty. Both convened separate press conferences in the city on Friday, December 6. While Ajith Kumar sought the support of community members for himself along with his supporters, Sadananda Shetty sought the support for Sureshchandra Shetty.
If Sadananda Shetty alleged misappropriation of funds in Mathru Sangha and also opined that no welfare programmes were done under the tenure of Rai, Ajith Kumar Rai, who served as the president of the Sangha for two terms earlier rubbished all the allegations. He said that Shetty was attempting to take revenge against him for his defeat in the previous election.
Sadananda Shetty informed the media that though the historic Sabha Bhavan of Bunts association was demolished for constructing a new one, no efforts have been made to construct the new one. “Despite Ajith Kumar claiming that Rs 3 lakh was paid to Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) for securing permission for the construction of a new building, we have obtained information through Right To Information (RTI) Act that no such amount was paid so far,” he stressed.
However, Ajith Kumar clarified that resolution to demolish the old Sabha Bhavan was taken when Amarnath Shetty was the president of Mathru Sangha. “I have moved forward the resolution and secured all documents for constructing the new Sabha Bhavan. I have made an utmost contribution to the welfare of our community over the last several years. Though Sadananda Shetty and Sureshchandra Shetty claim of having done major contributions, there is not even a single evident one that they can keep before you,” he said and sought the support of all.
A total of 22,900 voters are there in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts. Along with the post of president, elections will also be held for posts of 20 executive committee members on Thursday, December 12th.
