Mangaluru : The district unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday exuded confidence that people would largely support candidates backed by the party in the gram panchayat elections even as the curtains came down on campaigning for the polls scheduled for May 29.

Speaking to press persons here, district BJP president Prathap Simha Nayak denied allegations that the BJP had been indulging in party-based campaign. He said the party had received a notice from the district administration and would issue a suitable reply, while maintaining that the party did not violate any law. Chiding a State Minister who had reportedly said that the Modi magic would not work for panchayat polls, Mr. Nayak asked whether people would support the Congress whose government is in slumber in the State.

He said that ever since the Congress government came to power, several mafias, including timber, sand, lottery and land have mushroomed in the State. The BJP would gain considerably in the panchayat polls as people have lost faith in the State government, Mr. Nayak claimed.