Udupi: Expelled BJP leader and former MLA K Raghupathi Bhat expressed his surprise at the margin of his defeat, stating that he did not anticipate such a result. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Bhat affirmed his acceptance of the voters’ decision and announced his intention to continue as a political and social worker.
Bhat defended his decision to contest the council election as an independent candidate, asserting that it was the right move. He believed that his candidacy had prompted some changes within the party. Confident in his chances of winning, Bhat cited time constraints as a major hurdle but felt that he had campaigned effectively given the circumstances.
His decision to run was motivated by a desire to send a message to the BJP, which he accused of neglecting Hindutva and nationalism. He criticized the party’s current candidate selection process, alleging that only those with financial resources were being chosen, a departure from the previous practice of giving opportunities to those who had been overlooked.
Bhat claimed that the BJP took this election more seriously than the Lok Sabha election and resorted to distributing money to voters.