Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Apr 21: "With the backing of my party workers and the people I have been elected on BJP ticket to contest assembly election. I will work sincerely toward fulfilling the wishes of the public,” said BJP candidate from Udupi constituency Raghupati Bhat addressing a press conference here on Saturday April 21.

"I joined the party in 2001 to contest as a Kadiyali ward member. I won the 2004 and 2008 assembly elections under the guidance of V S Acharya. I have tried to solve the problems of the constituency with help from Acharya. There are a few works pending. In order to fulfil the vision of V S Acharya, all these pending works will be implemented soon,” he added.

"Prime Minister Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh are expected come to the region soon,” he informed.

In reply to a question posed on Sri Lakshmivara Theertha Swamiji of Shiroor Math contesting as an independent candidate from Udupi constituency, he said, "I will seek his blessings. Seeking blessings from Swamijis of Ashta Maths is a tradition. I will meet him personally and convince him to withdraw his nomination and go as per his guidance. We have sorted out the problems of Krishna Math, in terms of notification of the endowment department, Kanaka Gopura issue and other management problems,”

"I will ask the people to vote for me on the basis of development. We have major developments to our credit such as the DC office at Manipal, shifting of Beedinagudde dumping yard to Alevoor and many more,” he said.

Regarding the sleaze video issue, Bhat said, "My character is good. Someone who has no confidence in facing the elections has conspired against me. No FIR was filed and the chapter was closed. There is nothing to it,”

"BJP district president and some other leaders are busy in election promotion. So they could not come here. I have confidence that BJP will win one hundred percent in Udupi. From January 6, I, accompanied by my party workers, have indulged in door to door campaigning. We had been to around 250-300 houses in a day during the campaign and received a good response from the public. People expressed their disappointment in Pramod Madhwaraj's work as there was no recognisable work accomplished,” he said.

Commenting on the rave party incident that happened at St Mary's Island Malpe, he said, "It was not a rave party and as an MLA of Udupi I had attended the programme. It was an international festival. My good works have not been discussed anywhere. On the contrary two bad incidents are highlighted,”

"In the 2013 elections, Congress had made false statements of BJP contestant Sudhakar Shetty. This was the reason for losing the seat." He concluded.

Praveen Kumar Kappettu, Shreesha Nayak, Dinesh Babu, zilla panchayat president and others were present.