Karnataka BJP minister tests Covid positive

Mangaluru, April 11 : Karnataka Endowment Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary on Sunday said he had tested positive and is in Mangaluru hospital for treatment.

"As I have tested Covid positive, I have been admitted to a hospital for treatment.

I request all those who came in contact with me in the last 2-3 days to take RT-PCR test," said Poojary in a tweet in Kannada.Poojary, who hails from the states coastal region, is also the ruling BJPs Leader in the Legislative Council.

According to a party source, Poojary participated at a function in the house of a relative of BJPs state President Nalin Kumar Kateel at a village in Dakshina Kannada district on April 8-9.In a related development, BJPs candidate Pratapgouda Patil in the ensuing Maski (reserved) assembly by-election in Raichur district has also tested Covid positive."I have isolated on the advice of my doctor after testing Covid positive," he said in a tweet in Kannada.

Patil, who defected to the BJP from the Congress, was disqualified under the anti-defection law in July 2019, causing the by-election."As I will recover soon, the electorate need not worry, my party leaders and cadre will campaign for me.Please vote for me on April 17," Patil said in another tweet.