My Contest was to Alert BJP Leaders to Rectify their Mistakes – Raghupathi Bhat
Udupi: The former BJP MLA of Udupi K Raghupathi Bhat claimed on Saturday that he contested the Legislative Council elections from South West Graduates’ Constituency as rebel candidate made the saffron party field its party leader C T Ravi in the biennial elections to the Legislative Council.
Addressing the media persons in Udupi Bhat said, “Ravi has got justice now. Hindutva and nationalism have now found a place in the Legislative Council”.
The former MLA, who has now been expelled from the BJP, claimed that the BJP fielded Ravi, a former Minister, fearing that Ravi too might become a rebel like Bhat.
Bhat clarified that his contest was to alert the BJP leaders to rectify their mistakes and make appropriate decisions in favor of party workers.
The former MLA, who lost the Council elections by securing third place, said that his contest resulted in the RSS workers jumping into the field to canvass for BJP candidate Dhananjaya Sarji. In addition, the party’s national general secretary (organization) B L Santhosh, and the State president B Y Vijayendra came to Udupi for the campaign. He said that he will not retire and remain as a BJP worker.
Bhat also said, “I did not expect defeat in the elections but I have accepted the verdict of the voters. I fell short of time for the campaign, but many have supported me in the elections. In the future, it will be a mirage for a common party worker to contest from the Graduates’ Constituency”.