Mangaluru: Having trounced six-time MLA Ramanath Rai in Bantwal and four-time MLA Abhaychandra Jain in Moodabidri, the Karnataka BJP has dedicated the landslide victory to slain Hindu activists Sharath Madiwal and Prashanth Poojary.
BJP’s Umanath Kotian, who had lost to Abhaychandra Jain in the last election with a close margin, won the Moodabidri constituency defeating the stalwart leader by a huge margin this time round.
In Bantwal too Ramanath Rai is facing an imminent loss to Rajesh Naik, a relatively new face fielded by the BJP who has gained a lead of 10380 votes after 7th round of counting.
Celebrating victory, the BJP twitter handle claims that the people of Karnataka have spoken eloquently against the Congress. ‘RSS worker Sharat Madiwal was brutally killed by Islamic fanatics. Congress Minister Ramanath Rai had given tacit support to these anti social elements,’ read the tweet.
BJP’s first victory comes in the form of Umanath Kotyan’s win in Moodabidiri, Dakshina Kannada. Congratulations!
Here, our karyakarta Prashant Poojary was hacked to death by fundamentalists. We dedicate our victory to his memory. #BJPWinsKarnataka
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 15, 2018
We win massively in Bantawal, where young RSS worker Sharat Madiwal was brutally killed by Islamic fanatics. Congress Minister Ramanath Rai had given tacit support to these anti social elements.
People have now spoken. We dedicate Rajesh Naik’s win to the memory of Sharat.
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) May 15, 2018
Sensing an imminent loss, DK Shivkumar who celebrates his birthday today speaking to media persons said that the numbers definitely hint at a loss while adding that it was the local leadership that failed Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s efforts.
“Our MLAs and ministers have failed on key issues. Rahul Gandhi did his best. He came here, spent time and united the party. It is local leadership that failed,” he said
He however refused to comment on Siddaramaiah while claiming that he’s still a leader.
Rahul Gandhi did his best, but it is we who have lost the elections. We, the local leadership, should have en-cashed it in a proper way & because of which we lost it: DK Shivkumar, Karnataka Minister on #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/mTUCbrfO0V
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2018
