While the BJP was savouring its victory in the urban local body polls in Udupi district on Monday, the Congress and other parties went into an introspective mode.
K. Raghupati Bhat, MLA and BJP leader, told reporters here that by electing the party in Udupi City Municipal Council (CMC), the people voted for development.
This is the BJP’s best performance in civic polls for Udupi CMC, as it has won 31 out of 35 seats.
Udupi city has been a stronghold of the BJP since 1968, when the Bharatiya Jana Sangh won 13 out of 19 wards in the then Udupi Town Municipal Council, the first such victory in south India. Barring two occasions since 1968, Udupi has always been with the BJS and the BJP, he said.
Defeat unexpected: Cong
Janardhan Tonse, President of the District Congress Committee, said the defeat of the party in the local body polls was unexpected. “We lost some wards by a narrow margin. We accept our defeat and will introspect on it,” he said. Yogish Shetty, President of district unit of Janata Dal (Secular), said: “We will not be despondent in our defeat. In spite of money power of other parties, we have managed to get a good number of votes. We will strengthen our party.”