Raghupathi Bhat undecided on joining Congress, confirms 2028 poll bid; gives Adani 10-day deadline over airport taxi charges

Raghupathi Bhat undecided on joining Congress, confirms 2028 poll bid; gives Adani 10-day deadline over airport taxi charges

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 13, 2026: Former Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat has said he has not yet decided whether to join the Congress or the BJP, but confirmed that he intends to contest the 2028 Assembly elections.

Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru, Bhat said he had received an invitation from the Congress and was considering the offer. However, he said he was still waiting to see whether the BJP leadership would invite him back.

“I have not yet decided which party to join. The Congress has already invited me, and I am thinking about it. I will consult my supporters before taking any decision,” he said.

Bhat said he had been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood and had served the BJP in several capacities, including as a district president and district president of the BJP Yuva Morcha. He had also been elected MLA three times, he noted.

Given his long association with the party, he said he could not make an abrupt decision without consulting his supporters.

Bhat expressed disappointment over what he described as unfair treatment by the BJP leadership. He said he had been denied a ticket to contest the Assembly elections and was subsequently promised a seat in the Legislative Council, but that promise was not fulfilled.

He also alleged that some sitting MLAs had subjected him to personal harassment and said he was hurt that senior RSS and BJP leaders had not intervened or spoken to him about the matter.

“I do not expect special respect. I would have been satisfied if I had at least been treated with basic courtesy,” he said, adding that the experience had caused him considerable mental distress.

Bhat said he wanted to contest the next Assembly elections to find out whether voters still supported him. He maintained that the people of his constituency had not rejected him; rather, he believed the party had denied him an opportunity.

“If the people tell me not to contest, I will stay at home. Even without being an elected representative, I can continue to help people and address their problems,” he said.
Taxi association gives Adani 10-day deadline over airport charges

In a separate statement, Bhat, who is the president of the Dakshina Kannada-Udupi District Taxi Men’s Association, accused the management of Mangaluru International Airport of imposing excessive charges on taxi operators.

He said the association had submitted several representations to the Adani Group over the issue but had received no response so far.

According to Bhat, taxi operators were earlier allowed 10 minutes of free access to the airport, after which a charge of Rs 90 was imposed. He alleged that the free period had now been reduced to eight minutes and the fee increased to Rs 180.

He further claimed that a new rule required taxis and autorickshaws entering the airport premises to pay an additional Rs 50.

The association has demanded that the airport restore eight minutes of free access and reduce the subsequent charge to Rs 100, Bhat said.

He issued a 10-day deadline to the Adani Group to address the demands, warning that the association would launch a series of sit-in protests at Kenjar if no action was taken.

Bhat also alleged that the airport management was not responding to concerns raised by elected representatives, including the district’s MPs and MLAs.