Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje/Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru/Udupi (SB/UM)

Mangaluru/Udupi, Apr 13: Soon after results of the Assembly by-polls in Nanjangud and Gundlupet were out, jubilant Congress workers, whose party secured resounding wins in both constituencies, came out on the streets to celebrate, in Mangaluru as well as Udupi.

Congress members and leaders in Mangaluru gathered in front of the district Congress office and raised victory slogans, bursting fire crackers and distributing sweets.

Addressing the gathering, MLA J R Lobo said, "Congress party's victory in the by-elections is an indication that the people of Karnataka are with the Congress, and they accepted the various pro-development works of our government led by chief minister Siddaramaiah. Congress will win the upcoming Assembly elections too."

Interim president of district Congress committee Ibrahim Kodijal said, "This is a big shock to the BJP from the people of Nanjangud and Gundlupet. They tried to win the by-polls with money and muscle power. But voters rejected them. Even a day before the results, they declared that their candidates would win the elections. They thought the voters from these constituencies were uneducated and fools. But they stood with Congress and Siddaramaiah's bold and people-friendly leadership. These victories are a roadmap for the next state Assembly elections."

Former mayor Harinath, corporator Naveen D'Souza, south constituency Congress committee president Balakrishna Shetty, leaders Stany Alvares, Lawrence D Souza and others were present.

Udupi

In Udupi, the celebrations were led by former Mahila Congress chief and KSDL chairperson Veronica Cornelio near the Clock Tower.

Addressing the gathering, Cornelio said, "When the canvassing for the by-polls started, the BJP had said that the results would be an indication of the next Assembly elections. Today, the results indeed show that Congress would win the state elections too.

"The people of the state have given a clear message that Siddaramaiah's pro-people programmes have reached them, and they have appreciated the same. That is why Congress has been able to secure such an extraordinary win.

"This victory will be a big morale booster to the Congress party workers to strive hard for the Assembly elections," she added.

Udupi urban deveopment president Narasimhamurthy said, "Former BJP MLA (Raghupati Bhat) had said he would make Udupi Congress-mukt. It is nothing but a day-dream. Congress has made Karnataka a hunger-free state, and people have appreciated the government for this."

Referring to BJP candidate Srinivas Prasad's allegations of bribery against Udupi MLA and minister Pramod Madhwaraj, Narasimhamurthy said, "The election results of today are a fitting reply to BJP. Pramod Madhwaraj is a sincere and honest politician. People have shown that they do no support BJP's baseless allegations."

Harish Kini took a dig at Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje and said, "Shobha Karandlaje has gone missing. She has done no development work in Udupi. She is only good at giving statements to the media."

The Congress members burst firecrackers and distributed sweets to mark the celebration.

Jyothi Hebbar, Chandrika Shetty, Meenakshi Bannanje and many others were present.