Udupi: Sudhakar Shetty chosen BJP candidate, Raghupati Bhat assures full support

Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SM)

Updated

Udupi, Apr 5: Sudhakar Shetty has been chosen as BJP candidate from Udupi constituency for the upcoming state Assembly elections to be held on May 5.

His candidature comes in the wake of MLA Raghupati Bhat's decision not to contest following the sleaze CD issue.

Addressing a press meet here on Friday April 5, MLA Raghupati Bhat said that he recommended Sudhakar Shetty's name after holding discussions with senior party leaders like Ananth Kumar, Sadananda Gowda, R Ashok and other core committee members.

"I am very happy about Sudhakar's candidature. He has the party's unanimous support and we will all work together to ensure his victory. He will be like my right hand," he said.

Commenting on the recent controversy over sleaze CD that forced him to back out of the elections, he said, "There have been many controversies, and I need time to sort it out. Due to lack of time, I do not want my party to suffer. First I am a BJP man and then an MLA," he asserted.

"I am out of this election race but it does not mean that I am scared or running away. I not sad either - I am an active politician and will remain so. I just need more time. When I come back, I will come definitely prove that it (the CD) was a conspiracy against me. I have already forwarded a request to the government to order a probe into it," he said, adding that in the previous election for Udupi-Chikmagalur MP seat, the opposition (Congress) had made an issue of the Malpe rave party, and this time they are using the CD as a bait.

"The content of the CD is spreading very fast, hence I have stepped back. With my cent percent support, I am sure Sudhakar will win and develop Udupi. Development was my priority during my tenure and I followed in the example of the late Dr V S Acharya in this regard. Sudhakar too will definitely do good work in the next years," he said.

When mediaperson reminded him that Sudhakar Shetty had contested against him in 2004 as an independent after being denied BJP ticket, Bhat said, "That was way back in 2004. There is no need to think of the past. Moreover, in 2008 elections Sudhakar worked for BJP and had campaigned door-to-door with me."

Sudhakar Shetty expressed surprise at his candidature and said that he received a call from Bangalore informing him about the same. "I am very happy and I thank Raghupati Bhat for recommending my name," he said.

He said he has enough experience as he has already contested twice for MLA seat. "I am confident of winning. I have everyone's unanimous support which is a blessing for me," he added.

When asked the reason for BJP's defeat in the recent ULB polls, he said that there were differences of opinion and controversies then, but this time all in BJP are united and will fight as a team.

Upendra Nayak, Kota Srinivas Poojary, Yashpal Suvarna and Udayakumar Shetty were present.

Sudhakar Shetty is the owner of Sharadha International Hotel and has also served as vice-president Udupi CMC earlier. He is also the former president of Udupi Urban Development Authority.

Despite being a senior member of the BJP, Shetty was not given a chance in the assembly election in the year 2004. He then contested as an independent with the support of Hindu Yuva Sena and came third with around 45,000 votes.

In the following elections held in 2008, Raghupati Bhat was elected as MLA for the second time.

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