Talking to reporters, Mr. Padmaraj, who unsuccessfully contested as Congress candidate against BJP’s Capt. Brijesh Chowta in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, said he will not hanker for contesting any election in the future. “My only aim is to bring the party back to its past glory in Dakshina Kannada and win all the eight Assembly constituencies in the 2028 elections.” Mr. Padmaraj said he will further strengthen the party organisation at the ward level and ensure party’s victory in the elections to be held for local bodies.
The six lakh-odd votes that he garnered in the 2024 Parliament election was indication of the support he has across the communities. “Yes, I belong to Billava community and I have got votes from them. But people from other communities have also voted in my favour.” The Congress is a secular party that believes in taking all communities along. “I will work with the same mindset and take all communities along. I will stay committed to the growth of the party and the region”. Though the Congress enjoys good support in the district, the BJP has managed to garner more votes in Dakshina because of latter’s communal politics, he said.
Claiming himself as an ordinary Congress worker since 1992, Mr. Padmaraj said the party gave him opportunity to contest in the 2024 election, and then he was given different party responsibilities. He was among the 40 contenders to the district president’s post. “A big responsibility has been entrusted upon me now, and I will not let down the party and the workers, who have reposed faith in me.” “There are no groups in the party and I will take all along and work towards the party gaining power in the 2028 polls,” he said.
