Daijiworld Media Network – Karwar (MS)

Karwar, Mar 15: “My family members, who were staunch supporters of the Congress party, had scolded me when I contest from BJP,” said central minister Anant Kumar Hegde.

Hegde was speaking at the meeting of BJP workers at Devalamakki near here. He further said, “In my home nobody voted for BJP. When I got BJP ticket for Lok Sabha, they scolded me. My ancestors were with Congress right from the days of struggle for independence. So they said that my deserting of the Congress party is a bad name for the family.

“I do not know whether my father has voted for me, though I have contested in the last five elections. He is a die-hard supporter of Congress. But this time around, he came to me and said that he will vote for BJP this time. However, he also clarified that he is not voting for me, but for the administration style of PM Modi. At that moment I folded my hands and thanked him and said that at least God has given you that much sense now.

“Like our family, the environment of accepting BJP is growing all around the country. Leaders of various opposition parties are joining BJP. So the Congress party does not have candidates at all for contesting. As they could not find a candidate in Karwar, they have given this seat to JD (S).

“The enthusiasm of the BJP party workers is increasing day by day. During the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, there were 28,500 activists of BJP. However, this time around many have got registered through phone. So the number of BJP workers has gone upto 1.47 lac. But even we do not know, where the workers, who have registered with our party are. Their phone number and name is with us.”