Defeated candidates in Mysuru back in active politics, undeterred

MYSURU: A loss in the recently held state assembly elections has not deterred senior leaders in Mysuru region from staying in touch with people. Instead, they are back in active politics in their respective constituencies and continue to work with their supporters.
Many of them are setting their eyes on the upcoming polls citing that their defeat in the assembly polls is only a temporary setback. "Politics is a continuous process. Now, we need to get ready for various rural local bodies (zilla panchayat, taluk panchayat ) elections," they said.
Former minister and BJP leader N Mahesh, who lost from Kollegal constituency in Chamarajanagar district, informed that he will continue working towards strengthening the party. Guarantee cards worked for Congress which led to my defeat, he said.
I will continue to work for the party and plan to contest in the next assembly election too from the same constituency, he said.
Another senior leader of the party CT Ravi, who is national general secretary of the BJP, who lost from Chikkamagaluru constituency in the Malnad district of Chikkamagaluru, said there is no retirement for 'karyakartha' in the party. For us, power is just an instrument to reach our goal, he said.
We are here for our ideology; not for power, he explained. "The party will decide my role. Presently the party has given me several responsibilities. Several events are lined up, including 9 years of celebrations of the Modi government," he said.
Senior BJP leader Appachu Ranjan, who is a former minister, lost from Madikeri constituency, said he will stay active in politics. I am actively engaged with the party workers and continuing all the activities, he told TOI.
Former minister and JD(S) leader SR Mahesh, who lost from Krishnarajanagara constituency in Mysuru district, said the party will decide his political future. "However, it is my responsibility to stay strong with the party workers and supporters." I will continue working in the constituency and do whatever my party wants me to do in the interest of the party, he said.
Congress leader HP Manjunath who lost from Hunsur constituency to JD(S) candidate GD Harish Gowda by a margin of just 2,412 votes in the assembly election held a meeting with the party activists and his supporters on Sunday. I took just two days to come out of the disappointment, he said. "On Day 3, I visited Dharmasthala. From Day 4, I have been actively involved in my constituency," he added.
"Earlier, I was spending all my days in a week in the constituency. Now I have decided to focus on family, business etc. I will keep meeting party activists, supporters," he said.