Udupi: Udupi TP member Rehamatullah and Hoode Tonse GP members joined Congress at a function held near Hoode bus stand on Tuesday.

B. Janardhana Poojary (BJP) senior Congress leader, converted them from Independent to dependent Congress members of his fold, with a Congress Flag (hand). Several others joined this team.

Addressing all of them, Poojary said BJP rulers had tarnished the image of the state of Karnataka, and no investors came here Voters are the final judges in the Udupi by-poll.

He asked them to vote for a good candidate, in Congress party that is. He appealed to local voters to elect Jayaprakash Hegde.

Ullal MLA U.T. Khader, Udupi Congress Pramod Madhwaraj ex-ZP member J. Thonse and Brahmavara Block Congress chief Rajesh Shetty, also spoke on the occasion seeking votes for Congress.

KPCC leaders Ranjita and K.P. Nanjundi, Canvassed in Brahmagiri area. B. Ramanath Rai, MLA Campaigned in Koteshwar M. area.

After initial hiccups and bad omens, Congress was gaining ground at BJP’s expense.