Mangaluru, Apr 26: B Ramanath Rai, minister for forest, environment and ecology, and Congress candidate for Bantwal assembly constituency, today said that he is not aware of any secret pact between the Congress and the Social Democratic Party of India.
Replying to the queries of media persons in the city, Mr Rai said: “The party leaders have not given me any instructions regarding the alliance with the SDPI. I ask all the people to support Congress, which is the biggest secular party in the country. I don’t know what SDPI leaders are going to do.”
Mr Rai’s comments came a day after SDPI’s Bantwal candidate Riyaz Farangipete withdrew his nomination papers to “defeat communalism and save democracy”. Mr Farangipete had earlier claimed that Mr Rai was the biggest problem of Bantwal and that he should be defeated. The sudden U-turn of SDPI has sparked many rumours.
Mr Rai, who has tasted six victories and one defeat in last seven assembly polls, is contesting for the eighth time from Bantwal. “I assure that the development works in my constancy will pick up speed if I was elected once again,” he said while expecting confidence that people will make him MLA for the seventh time.
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