News and Pics by Hemanath Pdubidri
For Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
 
Udupi, Oct 24: R V Deshpande, president, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Thursday October 23, visited Bhatkal MLA J D Nayak, who was seriously  injured in a major accident on National Highway 17 near Honnavar. The MLA was admitted to KMC Hospital in Manipal on Wednesday October 22, alongwith his co-passengers Shailendra Kumar, Krishnappa Nayak and Nagesh Nayak.

The Bolero in which they were traveling collided with a passenger bus, killing three of their companions on the spot.  Deshpande, speaking to media persons afterwards said that MLA Nayak was slowly recovering from a head injury while the other three are in the ICU. He asked Dr Raja and Dr H S Ballal, to closely monitor their condition.  
 

Replying to the queries of media persons, Deshpande said that Siddaramaiah is a senior Congress leader and not disregarded in any manner.  He said that talks on alliance with JDS and Samajwadi Party are not in the offing and the decision of the high command in this regard will prevail.
 
The KPCC chief further said that ‘Operation Lotus’ by the reigning BJP was a disgrace and an onslaught on democracy.  The Congress MLAs poached by the BJP have betrayed voters in their respective constituencies, who will teach them a lesson in the forthcoming by-polls. 
 
Deshpande said that the party would not resort to similar means. Reacting to Asnotikar’s statement alleging that the Karwar Congress has 11 factions, he said that Asnotikar had no moral right to make such comments as he was himself a deserter.
 
The Congress leader was accompanied by Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee president Ramanath Rai, Udupi District Congress Committee president M A Gafoor, and zilla panchayat president Raju Poojary. 
 
Deshpande’s entourage left for Bhatkal to offer condolences to the grieving families of the three who died in the fateful accident on Wednesday.