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| Wrong rally blunder in India poll | Wrong rally blunder in India poll |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A minister in the Indian state of Karnataka has made a quick exit after realising he was addressing the wrong election rally. | A minister in the Indian state of Karnataka has made a quick exit after realising he was addressing the wrong election rally. |
| VS Acharya, the home minister of the southern state and a Bharatiya Janata Party member, saw an opportunity to address a rally in Udupi district. | VS Acharya, the home minister of the southern state and a Bharatiya Janata Party member, saw an opportunity to address a rally in Udupi district. |
| Observers said he seemed oblivious as he denounced the Congress government - in front of Congress supporters. | |
| A sheepish Mr Acharya later said he was just paying a "courtesy visit". | A sheepish Mr Acharya later said he was just paying a "courtesy visit". |
| Restless | Restless |
| Police at the rally on Sunday in the coastal district of Udupi, 390km (243 miles) from Bangalore, said the senior BJP leader beat a speedy retreat when he realised his mistake. | Police at the rally on Sunday in the coastal district of Udupi, 390km (243 miles) from Bangalore, said the senior BJP leader beat a speedy retreat when he realised his mistake. |
| Mr Acharya had been on his way to meet a fellow BJP activist when he noticed the rally. | Mr Acharya had been on his way to meet a fellow BJP activist when he noticed the rally. |
| The Times of India said the Congress supporters extended the courtesy expected to be afforded to a minister and offered him a seat. | The Times of India said the Congress supporters extended the courtesy expected to be afforded to a minister and offered him a seat. |
| It said when he rose to speak Mr Acharya was still unaware of his surroundings and began by praising the achievements of the BJP government in Karnataka. | It said when he rose to speak Mr Acharya was still unaware of his surroundings and began by praising the achievements of the BJP government in Karnataka. |
| Witnesses said the Congress supporters seemed to be giving him a fair hearing until they became restless at his criticism of the Congress-led federal government. | Witnesses said the Congress supporters seemed to be giving him a fair hearing until they became restless at his criticism of the Congress-led federal government. |
| One of the Congress workers also took exception to the bicycles being given out by the BJP as part of its election campaign. | One of the Congress workers also took exception to the bicycles being given out by the BJP as part of its election campaign. |
| Observers said a visibly embarrassed Mr Acharya then cut short his speech. | Observers said a visibly embarrassed Mr Acharya then cut short his speech. |
| VS Ugrappa, a Congress leader, said Mr Acharya fled when he realised he was addressing Congress workers and not his own party men. | VS Ugrappa, a Congress leader, said Mr Acharya fled when he realised he was addressing Congress workers and not his own party men. |
| Mr Ugrappa said the BJP was damaging the communal atmosphere in the coastal districts of Mangalore, Udupi and Karwar. | Mr Ugrappa said the BJP was damaging the communal atmosphere in the coastal districts of Mangalore, Udupi and Karwar. |
| The districts were rocked by a series of attacks on churches last October and an attack by hardline Hindu activists on women for drinking at a pub in Mangalore. | The districts were rocked by a series of attacks on churches last October and an attack by hardline Hindu activists on women for drinking at a pub in Mangalore. |