While the Congress was euphoric at its victory, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) — JD(S) — were circumspect about their setback in the Assembly elections, here on Wednesday.
Gopal Poojary, president of Udupi District Congress Committee, who also won as Congress candidate from Byndoor Assembly Constituency, thanked the voters of his constituency and the district for reposing faith in the Congress. The party would strive to give a clean administration and give priority to developmental projects. The party would analyse the reasons for its defeat in Karkala and Kundapur Assembly Constituencies in the district.
Asked if he would seek a ministerial berth, Mr. Poojary said that he would discharge whatever responsibilities that the party high command gave him. A new person should become the president of Udupi District Congress Committee, he said.
Udaykumar Shetty, president of district unit of BJP, said that the controversies dogging the party at the State-level and in Udupi, had affected the performance of the party in the district. The money power of the Congress was also responsible for the defeat of the BJP. The party would hold a meeting in a couple of days to analyse the reasons for its poor showing in the district. “Defeats are common in politics. We will strengthen the party and give a strong showing in the Lok Sabha elections expected in a year,” he said.
Deviprasad Shetty, president of district unit of Janata Dal (Secular), said that people were fed of corruption and scandals of the BJP government in the State. They saw an alternative in the Congress and had voted for it, which was unfortunate as the Congress-led UPA government itself was involved in several scams.
There was a wave in favour of the Congress in the State. Hence, the JD(S) could not perform well in Udupi district. The party had pinned its hopes on the Kaup Assembly Constituency. But caste politics had marred the chance of its candidate Vasanth Salian.
The party would soon hold a meeting where it would discuss its failures threadbare. It would also discuss the issue of change in the leadership at the district-level. The services of Mr. Salian would be utilised for strengthening the party. “We are sad that despite all our efforts, we are not succeeding in the district. We will start planning for the next parliamentary elections,” Mr. Shetty said.
