Mysuru:  BJP MLC Arun Shahapur, who is also the Working President of Karnataka Rajya Madhyamika Shikshanika Sangha and Rajya Maha Vidyalayagala Shaikshanika Sangha, has appealed the teaching fraternity to cast their first preferential votes in favour of BJP candidate B.Niranjan Murthy in the Legislative Council polls from South Teachers Constituency to be held  on June 8.

Addressing a press meet at Patrakarthara Bhavan here this morning, Arun Shahapur, highlighting the contributions of the BJP Government to the education sector, said that the BJP was always committed to addressing teacher issues.

Accusing the previous Congress Government of doing little for the teaching community, Arun Shahapur smelt a scam in the direct approval given by the Department of Pre-University Education Principal Secretary to some applicants who had sought permission for setting up new PU Colleges, while at the same time rejecting over 70 genuine proposals for the same.

Claiming that there was information that the JD(S)-Congress Coalition Government has plans to divert funds allocated to the education sector for other purposes, he reiterated his appeal to the teachers to cast their first preferential votes in favour of BJP candidate B. Niranjan Murthy and thus enable him to win in the counting of first preferential votes itself.

Sangha office-bearers Rajanna, K.B. Anandamurthy, Nagaraj and others were present at the press meet.