Udupi/Bengaluru, Nov 12 (IANS): At least two prominent state BJP leaders, including state unit president Nalin Kumar Katil and Revenue Minister R. Ashoka, on Thursday acknowledged that BJP's clean sweep in the bypolls to RR Nagar and Sira is nothing but a Deepavali gift from Karnataka opposition leader Siddaramaiah and state Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar to the BJP.

Speaking to reporters in Udupi, Katil said that Congress leaders' infighting was evident on the grassroots and its own party leaders helped BJP register victories in the just concluded twin assembly bypolls.

"Karnataka leader of opposition Siddaramaiah ensured that N. Munirathna wins in RR Nagar just to show Shivakumar his place," he said.

Endorsing Katil's views, state Revenue Minister R. Ashoka said that both Congress leaders (Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah) were busy in showing one-upmanship throughout the election process.

"From the word go, the BJP received ground swelling support from Congress workers in RR Nagar. Being the in-charge of this constituency, I knew that the BJP would win by more than 40,000 votes and my prediction has come true," he said.

He further added that after realising that he would lose in RR Nagar, Shivakumar lent us all the support in Sira and as a result of this, the BJP won there for the first time in decades.