Denied BJP ticket: Will Raghupati Bhat contest as an independent candidate?

Udupi: MLA Raghupati Bhat said that he was disappointed with the way the BJP announced its candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections, but denied any move to quit the party.

“There is no question of joining another party,” he told reporters at his home in Perampally on Wednesday.

Further, Bhat said that he has not decided whether to contest as an independent candidate.

Bhat said that he was shocked at the sudden announcement. “I am not sad that the party did not give me a ticket. However, the way the party behaved is quite disappointing and shocking… Let alone Amit Shah, not even the state leader or district presidents gave me a call,” he added.

He further wished Yashpal Suvarna the best for the upcoming elections. “The boy I raised is a candidate today and I wish him all the best. I have no objection to the candidate. I have built the party’s stature in Udupi and created such a situation where whoever contests on the BJP ticket will win,” he said.