Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Aug 30: Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP of Dakshina Kannada and state BJP president has tested positive for coronavirus.
Taking to Twitter, Nalin Kumar announced that he had contracted the virus and has been admitted to hospital.
"I got myself tested for coronavirus and the result has turned out to be positive. Though I do not have any symptoms, I have got admitted to hospital as per the advice of the doctor," he tweeted.
"I am confident that I will return to public life soon with your wishes and blessings. I appeal to everyone, who has come in my contact to be alert," Nalin Kumar added in the same tweet.
The three-time lawmaker also advised all who came in contact with him recently to undergo a Covid test and isolate at their home.
State Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said he was saddened to know that Kateel tested positive for Covid.
"I pray to god that he recovers fast and get back to work," Sudhakar tweeted.
Earlier in the day, state's mining baron and former BJP Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy tested Covid positive and was admitted to a private hospital for treatment in Bengaluru.
Confirming that Reddy tested positive for the infection, state Health Minister B Sriramulu said he would pray to god for his best friend's speedy recovery.
Incidentally, Reddy was to visit Bellary on Sunday to attend the last rites of Sriramulu's mother after the Supreme Court on August 27 allowed him to travel to his home town from Bengaluru for 2 days.
In a related development, former Congress legislator Munirathna has also been admitted in a private hospital in Bengaluru after he tested positive on Saturday.
Munirathna joined the ruling BJP in November 2019 after he defected from the Congress following his disqualification for revolting against the party. He resigned from the RR Nagar assembly segment in the city's northwest suburb.
Former JD(S) minister H D Revanna and Congress state unit president D K Shivakumar are in separate private hospitals in the city for treatment after they both tested positive for the virus on August 27 and August 25.
Scores of politicians, including state Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, opposition Congress leader Siddaramaiah, state cabinet ministers S T Somashekar, Anand Singh and C T Ravi, Lok Sabha members, MLAs and MLCs tested positive and recovered from the infection during the last 2 months.
With IANS inputs