Newskarnataka – Mangalore

by Sandhya S

Mangalore : Mangalore Mayor Mahabala Maarla has clarified  that the Congress stance against hiking property tax was a collective decision of the elected representatives and that the endeavour was not intended at reaping political benefits. He was addressing press persons in the city on March 21, Friday.

It may be mentioned here that no hike in property tax was one of the major planks on which Congress campaigned during the local body elections held in March 2013. However, the issue  raked up recently, when Deputy Commissioner who is the Administrative Officer of the Mangalore City Corporation in the absence of an elected council  had issued a notification through  advertisements in newspapers on March 6, consequent to a decision taken on February 22 and a circular sent on March 5 regarding the  hike in  property tax.

The Mayor said that a signed letter was sent to the Deputy Commissioner questioning the timing of the notification of hike, which he said was not appropriate as it was violating the model code of conduct.

District Congress Interim President Ibrahim Kodijal who was also present, informed that the Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha Constituency Election Campaign office  of the Congress will be inaugurated on March 24, Monday at 9.30 am. This will be followed by a convention for party members at 11.00 am, he said.