more-in K. Raghupati Bhat, the BJP candidate for Udupi Assembly constituency, has urged Lakshmivara Tirtha Swami of Shiroor Mutt to support him. The seer filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate here on Saturday. He had earlier said he was not happy with the functioning of the local unit of the BJP and that it was mired in corruption. Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Bhat said the seer was expecting the BJP ticket but did not get it. “So he should support me as I am the BJP candidate. That is the culture of the BJP,” he said. To a query, Mr. Bhat said the Shiroor seer contesting as an Independent candidate would not help Congress candidate Pramod Madhwaraj as the seer would eat into not just BJP votes but also Congress votes. He said he would seek the blessings of the Shiroor seer and the seers of the Ashta mutts. Some top leaders of the BJP have tried talk to the Shiroor seer and pacify him, Mr. Bhat added.

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