Mangaluru, April 11 (IANS) 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 state's coastal region, is also the ruling BJP's Leader in the Legislative Council.

According to a party source, Poojary participated at a function in the house of a relative of BJP's state President Nalin Kumar Kateel at a village in Dakshina Kannada district on April 8-9.

In a related development, BJP's 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.

--IANS fb/vd