Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, May 23: Jayaprakash Hegde of Congress, who lost the Lok Sabha elections to BJP's Shobha Karandlaje, on Friday May 23 thanked his supporters and party workers for being with him throughout.
Addressing a press meet here, he said that he was thankful to all the supporters and the party workers for their hard work during the campaigning. He stressed that he secured a thousand more votes than the previous election.
In his defence, he said that he did not lose a single oppurtunity to raise questions in the parliament and that he was completely satisfied with his endeavours. He also said that he would continue his political journey and that he would serve the poor even though he had not won the election.
"The BJP started its campaign from the very beginning, unlike the Congress. I am happy that I received all support from the party workers," he said.
"My actual contest was against Narendra Modi and not Shobha Karandlaje. She would not have won if her development works alone had been considered," he said.
He asked the new central government to stop criticizing others and focus on development.
He said that the Congress party had failed to attract first-time voters; and issues like Aadhaar card, ban on areca and the lack of coordination had contributed to his party's defeat.
He also said that he would not try for the MLC post in the near future.