Mangaluru: The election campaign of the new entrant to the political scenario, All India Mahila Empowerment Party (MEP) for the upcoming elections started on April 30. The fledgling party founded by Indian Woman entrepreneur and educationist Dr. Nowhera Shaik in November 2017, will be contesting for the Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled for May 12.

State President Farida Begum clarified the aims and objectives of the party and said, “MEP aims at giving wings to women who were repressed by the dominant men and society for all these years. We will make sure that all the MEP leaders are available to serve the people round the clock.”

She was addressing a party supporters’ meet at Bombay Lucky Hotel Hall here as part of the campaigning for Karnataka Elections on April 30.

Pointing fingers at the national political parties in India, MEP State Spokesperson Shahbaz said, “It’s enough that you (political parties) used minorities, backward communities, and the youth for your own benefit. It’s enough that you make people fight for your vote bank politics. It’s time that we (MEP) are coming to the mainstream and soon will lead the state in a right direction.”

“People say, Muslims don’t speak Kannada and so they need to be sent to Pakistan. But my question is when have you taken efforts to teach us Kannada?”, he questioned and said that the Muslim community was ready to learn the language and it would be indebted to Karnataka.

Mohammad Iqbal is MEP Candidate from Manguluru South

The party has fielded social activist Mohammad Iqbal as its candidate from Mangaluru South Constituency. He has been allotted election symbol of ‘diamond.’ In a press release from the party, Iqbal says that he has been involved in social service for the past 10 years. Further he considers helping the destitute and poor, without any distinction of caste creed or religion, as his policy. He promises to work for women’s safety in the future too.