Udupi: Beaten by a huge transparent margin of over 46,000 Votes counted in 17 rounds on March 21 at Udupi, the BJP candidate V. Sunil Kumar bowed to the people’s verdict and accepted the defeat unexpectedly but grace fully, holding none in particular responsible for upset.

Later addressing his party workers, whom he disappointed by losing the MP by-poll, on Wednesday night, Kumar said he could not reach out to all voters in just 18 days in various campaign meetings. He decided to go on a tour of his constituency from Thursday, March 22.

He expressed his gratitude to all who voted him to the runner-up position. He asked partymen to take the defeat as a stepping stone for 2014 elections to win.

Chikkamaglur district unit chief Pranesh, Udupi district unit chief Uday Shetty, state BJP Vice-president Sulochana Bhat, and Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat among others, were present.