Dear South Bangaloreans,

My sincere thanks for the overwhelming support, affection and warmth you have shown me during our Lok Sabha elections. We have lost the elections, no doubt. But, more than 4 lakh people voted for me, for my party and our ideals. I respect the ultimate verdict of the people. But, the confidence shown by so many of you is, perhaps, more important than winning or losing an election. The young, the old, men, women, students, teachers, writers, sportsmen, government employees, labourers, laughing-club members, thinkers, activists, slum-dwellers, young professionals, business heads, retirees and people from all walks of life -- lakhs and lakhs of you exercised your franchise on election day and voted for me. I am deeply grateful for your confidence in me.

In the limited time we had, we did the best we could to get our message of clean, committed and progressive politics across to the twenty lakh voters living in Bengaluru South. I apologise if I could not reach you, directly or indirectly, during the elections. However, we got as far as we did due to the tireless efforts of my fellow Congress workers, youth, women and an army of public volunteers. Unique to this campaign were both the individuals and groups that voluntarily came forward to spread our message. My most heartfelt thanks to you all.

However, it disappoints me that in a constituency as highly regarded as Bengaluru South, only 45% of the electorate actually voted. Yes, our country is plagued by many ills. But if we citizens cannot make the smallest effort to vote, then are we really committed to this country and it’s future? How can we call ourselves patriotic?

It would be regrettable if I lost the precious relationships I have built with so many of you over the past few weeks. To preserve and build on these, I will establish an office in Bengaluru South. My Byatarayanapura office, however, is open to you. You can reach me whenever you need to.

Our elders in all their wisdom have said that success is sweeter because of the failures we face before it, the breaking dawn more thrilling because of the dark night preceding it. It is with quiet conviction that honest work will ultimately prevail, that I continue in the pursuit of public service.

Yours sincerely,

Krishna Byre Gowda,
Member of the Legislative Assembly
President, Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress