Bengaluru, May 23: Film actor-turned-activist Prakash Raj aka Prakash Rai, has described his defeat in Bangalore Central constituency as “a solid slap on his face.”
Mr Rai, who contested independently, not only faced a disgraceful defeat but also lost his deposit. Mr left the counting centre midway after learning that he was trailing at number three behind the BJP and the Congress.
He took to Twitter to accept defeat and said that a tough journey had just begun and his resolve to fight for a secular India will continue. "a SOLID SLAP on my face ..as More ABUSE..TROLL..and HUMILIATION come my way..I WILL STAND MY GROUND ..My RESOLVE to FIGHT for SECULAR INDIA will continue..A TOUGH JOURNEY AHEAD HAS JUST BEGUN ..THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO WERE WITH ME IN THIS JOURNEY. .... JAI HIND," he tweeted.
The National Award winning actor is pitted against Rizwan Arshad of the Congress and sitting BJP MP P C Mohan.
A video posted by a prominent Karnataka daily on Twitter showed Rai, sporting a slight smile, leaving the counting centre with his supporters in tow.
Mohan was leading from the seat with over 4.9 lakh votes as against Arshad's tally of 4.7 lakh votes. Rai was way behind at 23,980 votes, according to the Election Commission.
Bengaluru Central is traditionally a BJP bastion, with Mohan winning the seat in both the 2009 and 2014 elections.
On May 19, the actor trashed the exit polls which showed a clean sweep for the ruling party in the polls.
"With the exit polls, let some daydream that nightmare will come back. But ON 23rd, I believe citizens will prove it wrong. Till then let's sing and celebrate. What Bapu Ji Taught us.," he had posted.
Rai has been vocal about his views on the current BJP-led government at the Centre. He has also been one of those seeking justice for his friend and journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was shot outside her residence in September 2017.
The actor earlier claimed that Bollywood filmmakers stopped offering him roles as he has been critical of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.
Rai is the latest celebrity to join politics from the south after veterans Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan.
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