Udupi : Former Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat who has decided to contest as an independent candidate from the Southwest Graduates’ constituency after he was denied an opportunity by the BJP to contest, held a meeting of a large number of his supporters at his residence.

In his address, Raghupathi Bhat said he has taken the toughest decision of his life to contest as an independent with the backing of his supporters.

He also expressed his pain at being sidelined in the party and also for keeping him away from inauguration of development projects initiated by him in the constituency.