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Work of assembling prefabricated bowstring steel bridge over railway line begins at Indrali in Udupi

Being executed by NH Division of PWD, the RoB is part of widening NH 169A to four lanes between Udupi and Manipal

The Hindu 18 May 2024 12:18 pm

Udupi: Rare lithographs exhibition inaugurated at Aditi Art Gallery - Daijiworld.com

Udupi: Rare lithographs exhibition inaugurated at Aditi Art Gallery Daijiworld.com

Google News 18 May 2024 11:26 am

Orange alert as heavy rain forecast for three days in Karnataka

BENGALURU: India Meteorological Department, Bengaluru, on Friday issued an orange alert, forecasting heavy to very heavy rain in parts of coastal and south-interior Karnataka from May 19 to 21. These places may see a dip in maximum temperature by 3 degrees Celsius. Karnataka did not receive any rain from December 2023 to this April. However, Karnataka is expected to experience good rain in the next five days, CS Patil, scientist and director, IMD, Bengaluru, said. He said light to moderate rain is expected across the state in the next five days. Orange and yellow alerts have been issued for Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kodagu, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar and coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. These districts are expected to receive 7 cm rain accompanied by thunder, lightning and strong surface winds ranging from 40 to 50 km per hour till May 21. IMD said more than 75% of southern and coastal Karnataka, and 25-50% of north interior Karnataka will receive rain. The maximum expected temperature will go down by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius in the coming days. Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Bagalkot, Vijayapura, and Yadgir districts will be unaffected by rain. Rain biggest challenge for RCB A resurgent Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face five-time champions Chennai Super Kings in a do-or-die match that will decide the fourth and final team for the IPL playoffs in Bengalurus M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. RCBs fight will not just be with the Men in Yellow, but also with the Rain Gods as showers are forecast for Bengaluru on Saturday. RCB will need to win by at least 18 runs or chase the target with 11 balls to spare. A washout would mean CSK will sail to the playoffs.

The New Indian Express 18 May 2024 9:10 am

Council polls: Four rebels could tilt the scales

BENGALURU: With biennial polls scheduled on June 3 for six council seats three Graduates and three Teachers it is becoming clear that rebellion could impact four seats. A number of leaders who have turned rebel and filed their nomination papers could turn the contest into a cliffhanger if they fail to concede to their party high commands diktat and remain in the fray. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is May 20. In North East Graduates seat (Ballari, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Koppal, Raichur, Vijayanagara and Yadgir), Kalaburagi-Yadgir DCC Bank vice-president Suresh R Sajjan is the rebel candidate against BJPs official candidate Amarnath Patil. Former MLC Chandrashekar B Patil of the Congress is likely to benefit from this rebellion. In South West Graduates seat (Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Davanagere, Kodagu, Shivamogga & Udupi), both Dr Dhananjaya Sarji of the BJP and Ayanur Manjunath of the Congress are facing hiccups. Former three-time Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat has asserted that he will not withdraw his papers as there is a regional imbalance with the party not giving representation to Dakshina Kannada leaders in the Council polls. So, the going may be tough for Sarji, a newbie and a native of Shivamogga. For Ayanur, the situation would be no different as senior Congress leader SP Dinesh, who had contested twice consecutively and lost by a narrow margin, is reportedly firm on remaining in the fray. SL Boje Gowda of the JDS, who is the NDA candidate from South West Teachers seat (Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, two taluks of Davanagere, Kodagu, Shivamogga & Udupi) has an uphill task, as a popular figure in the cooperative movement, Dr SR Harish Acharya of the BJP, has filed his papers. Congress candidate K K Manjunath Kumar may take advantage of the rift in the BJP-JDS alliance. In Bengaluru Graduates seat (BBMP Central, North, South, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban & Ramanagara) where A Deve Gowda is the BJP nominee and Ramoji Gowda is contesting on a Congress ticket, there is no strong rebellion in either party. But KPCC social media general secretary Ferdinand Lawrence has also filed his papers, claiming to be the Congress rebel candidate. The South East Teachers seat is likely to witness a close contest between sitting MLC Y A Narayanaswamy of the BJP and DT Srinivas, husband of former Hiriyur MLA Poornima. The BJP-JDS leadership managed to quell the rebellion in South Teachers seat (Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Mandya & Mysuru) as BJPs EC Ningaraj Gowda was convinced to withdraw his papers in favour of JDS nominee K Vivekananda. Former MLC KT Srikante Gowda was keen to file his papers as a JDS rebel but could not do so as he was hospitalised on Thursday. Scrutiny of papers for SE Teachers seat adjourned The Election Commission of India (ECI) which scrutinised the nomination papers of the candidates in five Legislative Council seats on Friday, has deferred that of the South East Teachers seat to 3 pm on Saturday citing technical reasons. Fifteen people have filed 22 nomination papers for that seat. As many as 103 people have filed 156 nomination papers for the six seats that will go to the polls on June 3. The papers of 76 candidates were accepted to fight for the five seats on Friday. Nomination papers of candidates from all three major partiesJDS, BJP, and Congresswere accepted. There was also some issue with the Bengaluru Graduates seat, as the returning officer, Amlan Aditya Biswas, had rejected some papers of independents that were not in order. Scrutiny is quasi-judicial work done by the RO in front of candidates, clarified Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena.

The New Indian Express 18 May 2024 7:49 am

Karnataka has enough coal to operate its thermal plants

BENGALURU: The State government is stocking up on coal at thermal power plants so they run to full capacity and there are no power cuts. As on May 13, state-run thermal power stations had a stock of 8,51,275 tonnes of coal, and according to Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) officials, this is sufficient for the next 15-18 days. Apart from this, 2,00,813 tonnes of coal is available at Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) which is managed by the Adani Group. We are in a comfortable situation. We are also getting imported coal which is blended with coal generated in other Indian coal mines. A total of 28 rakes are expected to arrive in the coming days. The government wants to ensure there are no power cuts, hence all thrust is on thermal at the moment. Besides, renewable energy is not a completely reliable energy source, said an official from the energy department, not wanting to be named. The official explained that at the moment, the state is generating 967MW of solar and 610MW of wind energy. The total power generated from non-conventional sources is 1,718MW, including mini-hydro and biomass. When there is cloud cover, like nowadays, there is zero solar generation in some places. Wind is also not constant. All organisations that run on solar energy during the day need equal or more thermal energy post sunset, like the airport. Also, hydro power generation is very limited at the moment because of the drought, the official said. According to KPCL, hydro generation is 790MW. The total thermal generation is 2,056MW from Raichur, Ballari and Yeramarus thermal power stations. There is an additional 888MW from IPP-thermal power plants. The power generation from state sources as on May 17, is 3,825MW. To meet net zero emission target and the Paris Agreement, there is a need to reduce coal-based power generation. But at moments like these, there is no option. It is the only reliable backup source of power. Thermal power also helps in keeping the grid support constant. So far, little progress has been made in energy storage. We are working on demand and supply model at the moment, the official added.

The New Indian Express 18 May 2024 7:44 am

Closure of vented dam gates ahead of schedule averted possible drinking water scarcity, says Udupi DC

The administration had realised that it was going to be a tough situation as the rain played truant, said Vidyakumari

The Hindu 17 May 2024 9:26 pm

Gandhian Centre to host symposium on water crisis in Udupi district on May 18

Udupi Deputy Commissioner K. Vidyakumari will inaugurate the symposium

The Hindu 16 May 2024 8:55 pm

Four-day Mango Mela begins in Udupi

Deputy Commissioner K. Vidyakumari inaugurates the mela

The Hindu 16 May 2024 8:42 pm

Udupi Man Builds Dirt Road Single-handedly Using Simple Tools

The man managed to build the road in almost two years.

News18 16 May 2024 6:23 pm

Meet the Udupi farmer who makes Rs 3 lakh per kilogram of mangoes from his terrace garden - The Economic Times

Meet the Udupi farmer who makes Rs 3 lakh per kilogram of mangoes from his terrace garden The Economic Times

Google News 16 May 2024 12:32 pm

Meet the Udupi farmer who makes Rs 3 lakh per kilogram of mangoes from his terrace garden

Joseph Lobo, a farmer from Udupi, grows Miyazaki mangoes, one of the world's priciest varieties, on his terrace garden, selling them for up to Rs 3 lakh per kg. These mangoes are valued for their unique taste and medicinal benefits.

The Economic Times 16 May 2024 12:23 pm

With Rs 3 lakh per kg mangoes, Udupi farmer reaps gold

Joseph Lobo successfully grew Miyazaki mangoes on his terrace garden, influenced by geographical conditions. Rainfall in Jan affects fruiting. He cultivates exotic fruits, sells grafted plants, and includes Shankarapura jasmine.

The Times of India 16 May 2024 9:47 am

Curd rice: A soothing summer saviour

CHENNAI : Mustard seeds, mor molaga (buttermilk chillies), pacha molaga (green chillies) and curry leaves. For over 70 years, these are the ingredients that have gone into my thayir saadam (curd rice). And four generations of my family relish every bit of it, says Meenakshi with a proud smirk. Sitting confidently in an old wooden chair, the 96-year-old great-grand-paati of four smiles wide with excitement, her eyes twinkling with childlike mischief the moment she hears the word curd rice. In the 1950s, modern medicines had slowly started making their way into my veedu (home). But if one of my children had a bad tummy, avlodhaan, nothing doingcurd rice was the best medicine! chuckles Meenakshi, whose husband was a doctor at the time. Lime pickle is compulsory with curd rice, she advises. Everyone, please note! Ooofhow I devour thayir saadam! Like my Telugu friend who gobbles up perugannam and chadannam while my Kannadiga friend wolfs down some mosaranna. My Malayali aunts palate dances at the very sight of thayir choru while my Odia friend who lives upstairs cannot do without her pakhala bhaat. In walks my cousin from Delhi: for her, dahi chawal on a scorching May day. With the heat relentlessly gnawing at Indias every nook and cranny this summer, our fans, coolers and innumerable bottles of ice-cold water are at the verge of being checkmated by the sun. Gosh, what to do? Who will save us? Some soft, steamed rice on a banana leaf. Completely cloaked by oodles of thick, creamy curd. A drizzle of salt and then you gently mix, mix and mix. Not too grainy, not too mushy. Yes, thats just right. And of course you cant wait, immediately digging into the snowy decadence with some lime pickle, mango pickle or tomato thokku. Curd rice is your knight in shining banana leaf this scorching summer! Chawal ek dum soft honi chahiye (The rice should be totally soft). Mix perfectly with dahi and then add your tadka of mustard seeds, curry leaves and red chillies, says chef Bhagwan Singh from Uttarakhand. Although khichdi is the revered sick food of the north, Singh says that when his tummy aches, it is dahi chawal he runs to. Indeed, stomach aches were a royal pain in the tummy when I was little. Amma would rush me to the doctors and pop a dozen pills in my mouthwait, just kidding! A big bowl of mosaranna as I called it growing up in Bengaluru is what would finally do the trick. Within minutes, what tummy ache? My stomach? Hurt ah? And I would often whisper to myself, god bless the soul who invented curd rice! Ancient curdy goodness Food historian and MasterChef India Tamil judge Rakesh Raghunathan says that the humble elixir may have an ancestor. The Atharva Veda (1500-1000 BC) mentions dadhi, a sort of yoghurt-based preparation. Although this wasnt exactly curd rice, it was a precursor. Rakesh adds that dairy was considered a symbol of luxury and sophistication. The Mahabharata and Puranas also mention that kings consumed curd. The Charak Samhita, which gives us an account of Ayurveda, also mentions that curd was used by royalty. They consumed it because of its taste and nutritional benefits. Rice was obviously there, so it wouldnt have been very difficult to mix the two and eat. Over time, curd rice has evolved into a stereotypical seal stamp on South Indians. But Rakesh says that the prevalence of the dish in the eras gone by has more to do with climate. In regions where temperatures were harsh, people would use naturally cooling ingredients like yoghurt. These places also had a lot of rice. So one cannot say that curd rice was first patronised by South Indians, he adds. In her anthology of poems called Thani padal thirattu, Sangam-era poetess Avvaiyar lauds a comforting meal of tangy, frothy buttermilk and varagu rice with smoked and mashed brinjal. When a figurehead of ancient wisdom swears by the curdy goodness, you know you need it on your plate and palate! Myriad avatars of curd rice Speaking of some good ol wisdom, Bengaluru-based HR professional Gaurav shares his mothers maxim. Amma says mosaranna is a stressbuster. And the way she makes it is amazing: First, the plain curd rice is mixed with salt. On top of it a tadka of mustard seeds and curry leaves. And then a garnish of raw onions, pomegranate and cashews. For sides, mango pickle and lemon pickle. My family just cannot do without curd rice! Mosaranna was the chief guest at most Bengaluru buffets, Udupi hotels and local functions in the early 2000s, standing tall among the butter masalas, gobi manchurians and jalebis. To my six-year-old eyes, the ruby-red arils encasing the pomegranate seeds looked like little jewels on a snow-capped mountain. How could I not salivate at the sight of it? So much so that when an aunty walked up to me while I was shamelessly wolfing down my mosaranna and jokingly asked if she could have some, I blurted out a big No! and ran away. My parents faces understandably flushed red with embarrassment but I couldnt care lessI loved my curd rice! And though a good scolding from amma followed, the sleep I got that night was unparalleled. Thats perhaps why Sadhvi Das from Odisha says, Pakhala bhaat is positively intoxicating. I actually feel sleepy after eating it. In Dass ghoro (house), leftover rice is soaked in water overnight and allowed to ferment. In the morning, curd is added along with a chunka (tadka/tempering) of lemon leaves, mustard seeds and green chillies. The result, Das says, is absolutely delicious. We also call it chunka dohi pakhala and usually eat it with fried macha (fish) which has been marinated in mustard oil and masala. We also relish pakhala with spinach saag and bhortas (fried mixes) of aloo and tomato. Yum! In Palakkad native Latha Devarajans house, matta rice (red rice) is the protagonist in pazhaiya choru, which literally translates to old rice. A close relative of pakhala bhaat, the same fermentation process unfolds. Latha explains, After letting it soak overnight, we pour buttermilk over it in the morning. Most people add curd but I feel buttermilk is the healthier option. Vaddu maanga (mango pickle) is par for course. My grandmother used to say it is immunity-boosting and wards off constipation. Kochi-based engineer Thasneem Moosas family also seems to favour moru (buttermilk), generously pouring it over choru (rice). We then top it with crushed onions and chillies. It is oh, so soothing, she says. In the land of Krishnadevaraya, the Satavahanas and the Nizams todays Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ferments the cousin of pakhala bhat and pazhaiya choru: Chaddannam. Veteran South Indian actress-turned-content creator Mucherla Aruna has a soft spot for what she calls saadhannam, sharing recipes of it on her Instagram page, where she whips up numerous other quick-fix meals for her online audience. Aruna shares her mothers scrumptious yet simple recipe. When I was little, my mother would soak some leftover rice in water at night. Shed then add ample warm milk, onions, green chillies and salt. And of course, a teaspoon of curd. In those days, we didnt have a fridge so what she would do is put the saadhannam in a mud pot and keep it outside, allowing it to ferment outside overnight. In the morning, she would transfer the cool goodness onto a banana leaf, wrap it up and put it in a steel dabba. This was my school lunch every day. When Id open it, the aroma from the banana leaf, ahaperfect! Now a grandmother, Aruna makes the dish regularly for her granddaughter, who she says absolutely relishes sadhannam. She adds, In our house, summer means curd rice is a must! Though I love spicy food, I leave out the green chillies when I make it for her. With a side of avvakai pachadi (mango pachadi), it is too good, simply superb! Your humble summer sakhi They say that in India, the dialect changes every 50 kilometres. Well, since the taste of curd varies from hut to hut, the dish will also don myriad hats every few metres! The culinary elasticity of this friendly concoction means there is no one way to make it. You are the gastronomic genie: If you want mushy rice, so be it. If you want five side dishes, so be it. If you want to make your taste buds tingle with heaps of pickles and thokkus, voila, wish granted! Ahahow I love my thayir saadam, perugannam, chaddannam, mosaranna, pazhaiya choru, pakhala bhaat, dahi chaawal and so much more! In a country where innumerable oily, crispy, spicy and savoury competitors throng the culinary battlefield, there is one dish and its many avatars of course that binds Indias palates and hearts: our humble curd rice. Hmm..are you mixing the rice and curd yet? Have you added salt? What about the tadka? Oh, and do not forget to add lime pickle as Meenakshi paati says. Well, however you make it, be rest assured, your tummy and tongue will tango in joyyes, curd rice is your summer saviour.

The New Indian Express 15 May 2024 9:55 am

Yellow alert in 13 districts of Karnataka including Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada

Yellow alert in 13 districts of Karnataka including Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada naeem Tue, 05/14/2024 - 14:43

coastaldigest 14 May 2024 2:43 pm

Election fervor remains high in Karnataka as parties gear up for MLC polls

Mangaluru: Although the parliamentary elections in Karnataka have concluded, the election fervor remains high as political parties prepare for the upcoming Legislative Council elections for the Teachers and Graduates constituencies, set for June 3. BJP, JD(S) and Congress parties are gearing up for the election. Election is being held for the 3 Teachers' and 3 Graduates' constituencies in the state. As per the alliance, the BJP has allowed the JD(S) to field its candidate, sitting MLC SL Bhoje Gowda, from the Southwest Teachers constituency. However, the spotlight is on the Southwest Graduates constituency, which includes Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Shivamogga, and the Channagiri and Honnali Taluks of Davangere, traditionally a BJP stronghold. The BJP has controlled the Southwest Graduates constituency for about 45 years. This election, however, has garnered significant interest for several reasons. The BJP has named Dr. Dhananjaya Sirji, while the Congress has fielded Ayanur Manjunath. Manjunath, who won this seat for the BJP in 2018, resigned from the party in 2023, contested the assembly election as a JD(S) candidate, and later joined Congress. He will now contest as the Congress candidate. Adding to the intrigue, former Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat has rebelled against the BJP and decided to run as an independent candidate. Bhat, denied an assembly ticket in 2023, was rumored to be considered for the Council election. However, with the BJP opting not to field him, he has chosen to contest independently. Congress party is confident of grabbing the Graduates' Constituency from the BJP in this election. Ayanur Manjunath has a close association with the voters in the constituency. Voters are pleased with the work of the state government. Additionally, the growing strength of the INDI Alliance nationwide is noticeable. All these factors will help the Congress, AICC Secretary PV Mohan told Deccan Chronicle. He also mentioned that the 'Yuva Nidhi' scheme, one of the partys guarantees for unemployed graduates, would benefit Congress in this election. It would not be surprising if Congress wins all the seats. A new era has begun, he added. BJP leaders are vigilantly observing the developments. This has been our seat for over four decades. However, we cannot be overconfident. In the last election, we lost the Southwest Teachers constituency to JD(S) candidate SL Bhoje Gowda, a seat we held for about 40 years. If Raghupathi Bhat garners significant votes and there is no rebel candidate within Congress, Congress stands a better chance, a senior BJP leader stated. However, BJP leaders are hopeful that Bhat's rebellion will not damage the party. Raghupathi Bhat has enrolled many voters in Udupi. Even if they support him, he faces the challenge of securing votes in other districts where he lacks influence, he said. BJP has a strong presence in this region and our candidate will surely win if all the elected representatives work unitedly, he added. As Bhat prepares to file his nomination on Thursday, BJP leaders are making efforts to persuade him to reconsider his independent candidacy.

Deccan Chronicle 14 May 2024 12:44 pm

Strokes of a genius

BENGALURU: When Bengaluru-based artist Rekha Hebbar Rao heard of one of herfatherspaintingsbeing soldat a whopping Rs 2,90,37,188, she was glad to see his work finally getting the recognitionthat itdeserves.His works havebeen auctionedbeforebutthis is the highest it has been,says Rao. Her father isnone other thanKK Hebbar, one of the most influential painters of modern Indian art who carved a unique path for himself by blending traditional Indian aesthetics with modernist techniques. In a recent auction hosted by AstaGuru titledMasters Legacy,whichshowcased an exquisite array of rare works from different periods of modern art, one ofHebbarsoil on canvas paintings'TheDivine Herdsman' (1987) an iconic image of Krishna with his flute was soldfor Rs 2.9 crore. The post-Independence era began with a search for modernity in visual arts. Nowachallenge lay for all Indian artists to confront and understand modernism. My father found himself confronting the same dilemma. He sought to address this by subtly turning to his own tradition and culture while using Western tools like canvas and oil colours. He found his own space to define his style through line, form and colour and establish hisownidentity. His painting,The DivineHerdsmanbears testimony to this thought process,shares the 77-year-old artist. Empathy at the heart of it Born to a modest Brahmin family in the village of attingeri,Hebbarsartistic sensibilities were nurturedearly on through frequent visits to the Udupi Krishna Temple.Therehe saw certain mythological subjects painted on thewalls of the temple(copies of Raja Ravi Varma) by a local artistRamanna. He was so impressed that he bought an oleograph of Goddess Saraswati by Raja Ravi Varma for two annas,says Rao. As Hebbar set out on a quest to master art, hewas drivenby deep empathy for the underprivileged a theme recurrent in his works.There was a tile factory in front of our house where theworkersafter a harddaystoilsang and danced. I often accompanied him across the street to sit amongst them and enjoy a cup of tea or join them in their festivities like Deepavali and Holi,reflects Rao. Rekha Rao with father KK Hebbar and mother Susheela Hebbar No pressure on me to follow his style Rao recallsbeing drawnto art from a very early age.My memories go back to when I was four years old. Every day, I felt this great need to draw, scribble, paint with sheets of drawing paper all strewn around me,says Rao. Growing up in a house that doubled as a studio,Raos artistic pathwas inevitably shapedby herfatherslegacy.I am placed by history and personal circumstances. Myfathersstudio crackled with creative energy. Artists, writers, musicians, dancers and art students stopped by at his studio,recounts Rao, adding,Debates, arguments raged continuously about art, tradition and social justice. Every Deepavali, personalities like lawyer Karl Khandalawala and writer Mulk Raj Anand converged at our home to celebrate the festival. All this moulded my sensibilitiesandat the core of all this was my deep relationship with my father.Despite the dynamic environment,there was no pressure on herto emulate her fathersstyle.There was a delicate interdependence and creative exchanges. Every exhibitionthat Ivisited and our personal works were discussed threadbare with my father. But there was no pressure on me to follow his style or concerns,she says. Within the vast repertoire of her fathers works,there aremany thatare close to Raos heart.My father is renowned for his line drawings. His book, Singing Lines and drawings to illustrate the Tamil epic poem, Silappadikaramare masterpieces.Reflecting on the current state of Indian art, Rao observes a shift towards an rbanconsciousness,influenced heavily by technology and global trends. However, she remains steadfast in her belief that the core of creativity remains unchanged, asserting,Underlying everything are the unifying principles of creativity in art.Artists have always responded to their environment and happenings intheirsociety and the world, irrespective fame and wealth. Rekha Hebbar Rao

The New Indian Express 14 May 2024 9:14 am

Council polls: Upset Raghupathi Bhat to contest as independent

UDUPI: Citing regional imbalance in allotting the ticket for the June 3 Council elections in the state, former MLA and BJP leader, K Raghupathi Bhat, has announced that he will contest as an independent from the South West Graduates constituency. Bhat told reporters in Uudpi on Monday that he is confident of winning the election. As the MLA of Udupi in the past, I served efficiently. Without even holding a discussion with me, I have been denied the ticket. I have received calls from heads of various institutions and well-wishers offering their support. I have decided to contest as an independent as representative of BJP workers. This is not an election to decide the PM or CM. Even if I win, there will be no loss to BJP, as I will continue to be a sincere party worker. My contest is not a dissidence against BJP, Bhat, a three-time MLA from Udupi, said. I have explained to BJP leaders in detail all my bitter experiences, some of which I cannot disclose to the media. I want to work as an MLC, Bhat said. In the 2023 Assembly polls, I was denied the BJP ticket to contest from Udupi at the last minute, and I came to know about it through news channels. I campaigned for Yashpal Suvarna, who is an efficient leader. I had even ignored offers from other political parties then, Bhat said. Bhat said he had plans to retire from political life after expressing his displeasure over denial of a ticket.. It would not have hurt me much if the party had given tickets to a strong leader like Yashpal Suvarna. What hurts me most is that the ticket has been given to a leader, who joined the party very recently, Bhat said. The BJP has already announced Dr Dhananjaya Sarji as the South West Graduates constituency candidate.

The New Indian Express 14 May 2024 8:38 am

MLC polls: Former BJP MLA Raghupathi Bhat decides to contest as Independent Candidate

MLC polls: Former BJP MLA Raghupathi Bhat decides to contest as Independent Candidate Udupi: After being denied ticket to contest from South West Graduates constituency, former MLA and BJP leader Raghupathi Bhat has decided to contest the election as an independent candidate. His decision comes after the BJP decided to field Dr Dhananjaya Sarji, a [] The post MLC polls: Former BJP MLA Raghupathi Bhat decides to contest as Independent Candidate appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Mangalorean 14 May 2024 7:24 am

Several CBSE schools in Mangaluru and Udupi record centum result in Class 12 exam - The Hindu

Several CBSE schools in Mangaluru and Udupi record centum result in Class 12 exam The Hindu

Google News 13 May 2024 10:45 pm

Undertrial dies in Udupi jail in Karnataka - South First

Undertrial dies in Udupi jail in Karnataka South First

Google News 13 May 2024 12:57 pm

Former Udupi BJP MLA Raghupathi Bhat irked over missing MLC ticket

UDUPI: Former BJP MLA of Udupi K Raghupathi Bhat expressed his ire after he missed the party ticket to contest from the South West Graduates constituency to be elected as an MLC. He took to X to express his anguish and posted that the ticket went to a candidate from Shivamogga. On his X handle, @RaghupathiBhat, he stated, This decision by the BJP has ended a forty-year old tradition, failing to honour the expectations of the educated voters in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagalur and Kodagu, as no tickets were distributed for the teachers constituency in the coastal region. He stated, Since 1994, I have served diligently in various capacities within the BJP, as an active worker and also as an office bearer. I have stood as a candidate for the Assembly and secured victory thrice. However, during the last assembly polls, I was replaced without prior notice, and learnt of my replacement through a TV announcement. Despite this, I remained committed to the party. At that time, senior party members assured me of the opportunity to contest in the upcoming graduates constituency elections. In preparation, I led vigorous graduate membership campaigns... Yet, with the recent MLC ticket distribution, one must ask who will address the injustice inflicted by the BJPs break from tradition, which overlooked the coastal regions teachers constituency for four decades.

The New Indian Express 13 May 2024 8:17 am

Murder accused found dead in Udupi jail

UDUPI: A murder accused undertrial was found dead in the Udupi jail near Hiriadka on Saturday. The deceased is Anup Shetty, 37, who was being tried for charges of murdering his business partner Ajendra Shetty in Kalavara village of Kundapur in July 2021. Shetty had gone absconding after Ajendras murder but was later arrested by Udupi police in Goa after some days. On Saturday, Shetty was found unconscious in the jail and was rushed to the hospital, but doctors declared him dead. He is suspected to have died of cardiac arrest. Police are waiting for the postmortem report to ascertain the exact reason behind his sudden death. On July 30, 2021, Ajendra Shetty, a financier, was hacked to death inside his office located in Kalavara in Kundapur taluk allegedly by Shetty. The incident came to light when the family members grew suspicious as Ajendra did not return home even after 11 pm that night. They rushed to his office and were shocked to see Ajendra lying in a pool of blood. Complainant Mahendra Shetty, brother of Ajendra, had stated that the victim was brutally murdered and had suspected Shettys involvement. Shetty had some differences with Ajendra over some business deals and had expressed his disapproval before Ajendra several times. After the suspicious death of Shetty in Udupi jail on Saturday, the jurisdictional Hiriadka police have registered a case under Section 176 of the CrPC. S A Shirol, the jailor, filed a complaint and stated that Shetty was lodged in the jail on August 6, 2021, following an order passed by a Kundapur court. On May 11 at 2.45 pm, Anup threw up before falling unconscious. A staffer, Nagaraj Kumashi, brought the matter to the notice of the jailor and arrangements were made to shift him to the district government hospital.

The New Indian Express 13 May 2024 7:56 am

St Anne Church, Thottam Holds Day-Long Spiritual Festival Gospel Gala for Youths

St Anne Church, Thottam Holds Day-Long Spiritual Festival Gospel Gala for Youths Udupi: Unlike the usual Sports and Cultural Festivals, a one-day Spiritual Festival Gospel Gala was inaugurated by V. Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca at St Anne Church auditorium on 12 May 2024. In his inaugural address, Fr Mendonca said that a real leader brings [] The post St Anne Church, Thottam Holds Day-Long Spiritual Festival Gospel Gala for Youths appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Mangalorean 12 May 2024 10:50 pm

Undertrial dies in Udupi District Prison

Undertrial dies in Udupi District Prison Udupi: A 35-year-old undertrial in a murder case died in Udupi District Prison on Saturday. In a complaint to the police, jailor S.A Shirol said the undertrial Anup Shetty was in the prison since August 6, 2021. On Saturday afternoon, he vomitted and fell unconscious around 2.45 p.m.. He [] The post Undertrial dies in Udupi District Prison appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Mangalorean 12 May 2024 10:39 pm

Undertrial dies in Udupi jail

The Hindu 12 May 2024 7:48 pm

In a first, Udupi artistes present Yakshagana in Marathi

Yakshagana guru Bannanje Sanjeeva Suvarna of Udupi and a retired professor Vijaya Phatarpekar of Sawantwadi in Maharashtra worked with a team of amateur artistes from Udupi

The Hindu 12 May 2024 4:08 pm

In a first, Udupi artistes present Yakshagana in Marathi - The Hindu

In a first, Udupi artistes present Yakshagana in Marathi The Hindu

Google News 12 May 2024 4:08 pm

Tourists assault lifeguard at Malpe beach

UDUPI: A lifeguard deployed at the beach area was assaulted by a group of six tourists at Malpe beach on Thursday. Sources said the tourists ignored repeated warnings about the rough sea by the lifeguard and continued to swim. Lifeguard Teja Kotian of Udyavara-Pithrody told the tourists about the dangerous waves, but the group ignored him and went to swim in the danger zone. When Kotian asked them not to continue swimming, the group assaulted him. Other lifeguards and home guards present at the spot attempted to apprehend the assailants. But they fled in a Swift Maruti car which bore the registration number KA 04 AD 8286. The incident has been officially reported to the Malpe police station, and a complaint has been filed regarding this matter.

The New Indian Express 10 May 2024 9:05 am

Karnataka SSLC results: Despite grace marks, only 6.31L students pass, girls shine

BENGALURU: The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exam results were announced on Thursday and 6,31,204 students of 8,59,967 cleared the first of the three exams to be held this year. The Congress government had scrapped supplementary examinations last year, and had introduced a new system that allowed students to choose the best marks from the three examinations. The pass percentage of the state for the academic year 2023-24 stood at 73.40%, which is 10.49 per cent lower than 2022-23, which was at 83.89 per cent. As per the usual trend, girls have outshone boys with a pass percentage of 81.11%, while 65.90% boys passed the exams, the lowest compared to the last three years. In the year 2022-23, the pass percentage for boys was at 80.08 % and 80.62 % in 2021-22. Students from rural areas outperformed those from the urban areas. The pass percentage of rural and urban areas was 74.17% and 72.83% respectively. This year, Ankita Basappa Konnur, a student from Morarji Desai Residential School was the top scorer with cent per cent marks -- 625 out of 625. All the three state toppers are girls -- Ankita, Medha P Shetty (624) from Bengaluru, and Harshitha DM (624) from Madhugiri. The highest marks were secured in the three languages, followed by Maths, Science and Social Science. English-medium students performed better than Kannada-medium. Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga were the top-performing districts with 94%, 92.12% and 88.67% respectively. Bengaluru Rural, South and North secured 9th, 12th and 14th positions respectively. A total of 2,288 schools secured 100 per cent pass percentage this year. Students can apply for the scanned copy of their results until May 16 and can opt for re-evaluation between May 13 to May 22. The second exam, will be held from June 7 to 14. Last date to register fro the is May 16.

The New Indian Express 10 May 2024 8:22 am

IPL betting racket: Case registered against trio by Udupi police

UDUPI: Udupi CEN police have registered a case as they busted a gang that was accepting betting money from people on a gambling app amid the ongoing IPL cricket matches. Ramachandra Nayak, the police inspector, received a tip-off that two individuals (Sudarshan and Karthavya), who were in their early 20s, were standing in a public place near Gandhi Maidan in Kundapur on Wednesday and were seen accepting money from public and engaged in betting racket. Upon further enquiry by the police, the duo revealed that Hebri resident Tejas, who is 22 years, was to come to the spot to receive the money they collected from the public. Police said that the trio worked as a gang and were engaged in betting racket. The trio were questioned, and a case was filed under Section 78 of the Karnataka Police Act. Police sources said that the trio used a betting app called Parker, and they were accepting money by betting in the cricket match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants. Police sources said Tejas, one of the accused, has also helped many others apart from Sudarshan and Karthavya to engage in betting using this particluar app. The trio secured the station bail later in the day.

The New Indian Express 10 May 2024 7:54 am

Udupi tops in class 10 examination, Dakshina Kannada bags second rank

Udupi district improved its rank to the top from 14th position, while Dakshina Kannada made it from 17th to second

The Hindu 9 May 2024 8:32 pm

Karnataka SSLC pass percentage down by 10%, state gets 73.40% in exam 1

BENGALURU: The Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) 10th grade exam results were announced by the Karnataka School Education and Assessement Board (KSEAB) on Thursday with 6,31,204 students out of 8,59,967 clearing the first of the three examinations to be held this year. The Congress government had scrapped supplementary examinations last year and introduced a new system that allowed students to choose the best marks from the three examinations. The pass percentage of the state for the academic year 2023-24 stood at 73.40%, 10 per cent lower when compared to the academic year 2022-23 with 83.89%. As per the trend, girls have outshined boys with a pass percentage of 81.11% and the latter securing 65.90%, the lowest when compared to the last three years. In the year 2022- 23, the pass percentage for boys was capped at 80.08% and 80.62% in 2021- 22. The KSEAB also announced the urban and rural area overall results, with students from rural areas outperforming those from urban areas. The pass percentage of rural was 74.17% and urban- 72.83%. Success rate drops in Kerala Higher Secondary, Vocational Higher Secondary 12th exams This year, a student from Morarji Desai Residiential School in Bagalkote secured the highest mark, scoring 625 out of 625 marks. The second and third toppers are from Bengaluru South and Madhugiri, scoring 624 each. As per statistics by the Board, the highest marks were secured in language subjects followed by Maths, Science and Social Science. The English medium students performed better than those from the Kannada medium. Out of the 4,660 differently abled children, 2,960 have passed. Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Shivamogga were the top-performing districts in the state with a pass percentage of 94%,92.12% and 88.67%, respectively. Bengaluru Rural, South and North secured 9th, 12th and 14th positions, respectively. A total of 2,288 schools secured a 100% pass percentage this academic year. KSEAB officials said students can apply for the scanned copy of their results until May 16 and opt for re-evaluation between May 13- 22, 2024, on the KSEAB website. The department also announced the dates for examination- two which will be held from June 7 to 14.

The New Indian Express 9 May 2024 6:18 pm

Mangaluru: 20-year-old Engineering Student from Udupi Commits Suicide in Hostel Room

Mangaluru: 20-year-old Engineering Student from Udupi Commits Suicide in Hostel Room Mangaluru:A 20-year-old engineering student from Udupi committed suicide by hanging in his Hostel room Near Bibi AlabiRoad,here on May 8. The deceased hasbeen identifiedas Nitesh Rao (20) from Udupi. According to the police, Nitesh from Udupi district was studying 2nd year engineering and residing [] The post Mangaluru: 20-year-old Engineering Student from Udupi Commits Suicide in Hostel Room appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Mangalorean 8 May 2024 7:29 pm

Byndoor Assembly segment in Udupi district records 76.4% polling

The access path leading from the highway to the polling station at Government Lower Primary School, Maravanthe, was in poor condition and caused many accessibility issues for voters using wheelchairs

The Hindu 7 May 2024 11:57 pm

After Mangaluru, Udupi starts water rationing to regain reservoir levels

After Mangaluru, Udupi starts water rationing to regain reservoir levels naeem Tue, 05/07/2024 - 17:45

coastaldigest 7 May 2024 5:45 pm

Udupi second city in coastal Karnataka to announce water rationing

Udupi: Udupi became the second city on the Karnataka coast after Mangaluru to launch water rationing, a senior official said on Tuesday. Commissioner of the Udupi City Municipal Corporation Rayappa told PTI that the rationing system will come into force from Wednesday and will continue till the water in the reservoir reaches comfortable levels. The Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

The Siasat Daily 7 May 2024 1:11 pm

In Karnataka's Udupi, 800-year-old Tree Uprooted

The Tulu people worshipped the fallen Takode tree as it witnessed the birth of the famous twin warriors Sri Kanthabare and Boodabaare.

News18 7 May 2024 12:33 pm

Latest main news of mangalore, udupi - Page Outstanding-Board-Results-of-St-Theresa-rsquo-s-ICSE-School-Bendur - Mangalore Today

Latest main news of mangalore, udupi - Page Outstanding-Board-Results-of-St-Theresa-rsquo-s-ICSE-School-Bendur Mangalore Today

Google News 6 May 2024 5:07 pm

Udupi Nirmita Kendra agreesto provide protection at Parashurama statue construction site

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has ordered a CID probe into alleged irregularities in the work on May 5.

The Hindu 6 May 2024 7:14 am

Udupi facing dearth of CNG supply, says Yashpal Suvarna

The Udupi MLA appeals to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri to look into the issue

The Hindu 3 May 2024 6:56 pm

Udupi facing dearth of CNG supply, says Yashpal Suvarna - The Hindu

Udupi facing dearth of CNG supply, says Yashpal Suvarna The Hindu

Google News 3 May 2024 6:56 pm

Vastu Expert arrested on charges of Sexual Harassment of Youth in Brahmavar

Vastu Expert arrested on charges of Sexual Harassment of Youth in Brahmavar Udupi: The Brahmavar police arrested a Vastu expert for allegedly sexually harassing a youth on May 2. The arrested has been identified as Ananth Naika (51), a resident of Chantharu, Brahmavar. According to sources, Ananth was running a business in a lodge room [] The post Vastu Expert arrested on charges of Sexual Harassment of Youth in Brahmavar appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Mangalorean 3 May 2024 9:06 am

Delay in Gruha Lakshmi payment keeps Karnataka BJP leaders guessing

HUBBALLI: BJP leaders in parts of Karnataka where polling will be held on May 7 are apprehensive over delay in the release of the Gruha Lakshmi amount, believing that the government will deposit the money on the day of voting or a little earlier. Under the guarantee scheme, the Congress government provides Rs 2,000 per month to the woman heads of families. And BJP leaders claim that the government is deliberately delaying the release of the amount to influence voters. Though officials in the social welfare department denied the allegations, the BJP cadre is now planning to bring this to the notice of its state president B Y Vijayendra. BJP members alleged that during the phase 1 of elections in Karnataka, which was held on April 26, many beneficiaries in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts got the amount on the day of voting. This time too, the government is planning to clear the dues on the day of voting or a few days before it, they said. The voting day is nearing and we are planning to request our senior leaders to look into this. This will have an impact on the minds of voters and the state government is not allowed to do this, said a BJP worker. An official from the Ballari administration explained that the Gruha Lakshmi amount is released by the state government in installments. We start making payments to the beneficiaries by the end of the month. If we start paying from the 28th date, it will take about six days to cover the beneficiaries, said the official. Ballari district has 3.5 lakh beneficiary accounts. A total of Rs 556 crore is required per year. An official from the social welfare department said there is a technical issue this month so the payments are yet to be made in Ballari, Koppal and Vijayanagara district. Once the amount is released, we will make the payments, the official said.

The New Indian Express 3 May 2024 8:40 am

Showers of relief over Bengaluru, similar weather this weekend

BENGALURU: Bengalureans experienced temporary relief from the excruciating heat after parts of the city witnessed light to moderate rainfalls on Thursday evening. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials, light rainfall was predicted due to extreme heat and cloud formation. Meanwhile, due to gusty winds and thinderstoms in some partd of the city, the BBMP received information of atleast 15 tree being uprooted and huge tree branches falling off across the city. The 10 to 20 minutes of rainfall coupled with wind resulted in trees being uprooted. However, no damages or injuries were reported. Some motorists complained about slow-moving traffic on BGS Flyover and Mysuru Road between 6:30 to 7:15 pm, said a BBMP Control room official. Four trees were uprooted in Girinagar, two each in Srinagar, Telecom Layout, Vijaynagar and Azad Nagar Maternity Hospital premises and one each near Hosahalli Metro Station, Koramangala, and Padmanabhanagar. IMD officials have predicted moderate rainfall for Coastal Karnataka districts like Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chamarajanagar, Ramanagara, Mysore, Kodagu, Mandya, Chikkaballapur, Bengaluru and Kolar on Thursday. The officials also said, thunderstorms coupled with rain are expected for next four days in Bengaluru.

The New Indian Express 3 May 2024 7:25 am

Dengue cases on the rise in Udupi

The Hindu 2 May 2024 8:11 pm

'Go hang yourself' not necessarily abetment of suicide: Karnataka HC

BENGALURU: Karnataka High Court has declined to categorise the statement 'go hang yourself' as abetment of suicide. Justice M Nagaprasanna addressed the complexity of determining abetment of suicide in cases involving contentious statements. The recent ruling stemmed from a petition involving allegations of abetment of suicide against a man in connection with the death of a priest in a church in Udupi in coastal Karnataka. The petitioner was accused of triggering the priest's suicide by allegedly urging him to go hang himself during a conversation about the priest's alleged relationship with the petitioner's wife. The defence counsel argued that the statement was made out of anguish upon discovering the alleged affair, and the priest's decision to end his life was influenced by the affair becoming known to others, rather than solely by the accused's words. The opposing counsel contended that the priest took his own life due to the accused's threatening language about exposing the affair. However, the single judge bench, drawing on precedents set by the Supreme Court, emphasised that such statements alone might not constitute abetment to suicide. The court acknowledged the multifaceted reasons behind the priest's suicide, including the alleged illicit relationship he had despite his role as a father and priest. Recognising the complexities of human psychology, the court underscored the challenge of deciphering the human mind and declined to categorise the accused's statement as abetment to suicide. Consequently, the court quashed the case, emphasising the intricate nature of human behaviour and the inability to fully unravel the motivations behind such tragic incidents. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)

The New Indian Express 2 May 2024 2:28 pm

BJP, Congress, JD(S) trade barbs over obscene videos, sexual harassment charges against Prajwal Revanna

A political slugfest erupted between the Congress and BJP on Tuesday over allegations of sexual harassment and 'obscene videos' scandal involving NDA Lok Sabha candidate and JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda. And following pressure mounting from opposition parties as well as within the party , the JD(S) suspended the incumbent Hassan MP on Tuesday. The BJP launched a fierce counter-attack against the Congress for delayed action in the case by the Karnataka government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other top BJP leaders questioned the state government about why it did not take action against Prajwal despite being aware of the case for weeks and months. The attack by the BJP came a day after the Congress took on the saffron party over the allegations against the leader of its ally, the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka. Police on Sunday booked Prajwal Revanna and his father, HD Revanna, on charges of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation based on a complaint from a woman who worked in their household. Faced with the unrelenting attack from the Congress and other political parties, the JD (S) suspended Prajwal, minutes after the party core committee that met in Hubballi recommended his suspension to its national president, Deve Gowda. Videos of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna allegedly harassing women are widely in circulation on social media and media and this has caused huge embarrassment to the party and its leadership, the suspension order said. Noting that the Congress government in Karnataka has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the allegations, it said: In this backdrop, as per JD(S)' party constitution and rules regarding breach of discipline and punishment, Prajwal Revanna has been suspended with immediate effect. The suspension order, signed by party General Secretary K R Shivakumar, was released to the media following approval from the JD(S) national President. Prajwal Revanna is not in the country and is said to have flown abroad after the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka on April 26. Prajwals alleged sex scandal: Let SIT investigate, we are ready to face it legally, says HD Revanna However, after his nephew's suspension, HD Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar engaged in a war of words over the allegations with the JD(S) chief accusing Shivakumar of hatching the conspiracy of circulating the videos in public and then setting up the SIT to probe into the matter. Bringing out the truth of the main accused is just one part of it. How was the pen drive circulated?... For what reason was it circulated and for how many months was the 'great leader' (Shivkumar) aware of it? These are the questions, Kumaraswamy told reporters in Hubballi. Reacting to Kumaraswamy's allegation, Shivakumar said the JD(S) first family has been remembering him for many years, without which they do not get proper sleep. Kumaraswamy had said in the television interview that the BJP high command had cautioned him that he (Prajwal) is not good and think before giving him a ticket. He also said giving the ticket to Prajwal was his father Deve Gowda's decision, claimed Shivakumar. Terming the charges against Prajwal 'serious', the Karnataka deputy chief minister said the matter here is of women's modesty. The information I got is that nearly 200 to 300 families, their honour, their relatives, their women and daughters, JD(S) party workers and those whom they gave jobs, contractors I have not seen them all (videos) but people are saying this, Shivakumar said. This morning, Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a statement asking people what the DCM is doing. He said there is no justice for women in Karnataka. You (Centre) sent a team of the National Commission for Women to Udupi when someone took photos (in a girls' hostel), but why are BJP leaders not talking about it (Prajwal Revanna's case), he asked. According to a letter purportedly addressed to BJP's BY Vijayendra in December 2023, party leader G Devaraje Gowda had opposed the party's alliance with the JD(S), saying he was in possession of a pen drive consisting of over 2900 video clips and photos allegedly shot by Prajwal Revanna to blackmail many women. MP Prajwal Revannas alleged sex scandal: Congress trains guns on BJP, questions PMs silence Blame game between Gowda, Prajwal's former driver Meanwhile, Devaraje Gowda and Prajwal Revanna's former car driver, Karthik, accused each other of leaking the alleged sleaze videos of the JD(S) Hassan MP, which has caused a big embarrassment to the regional party. Gowda on Tuesday levlled serious accusations against Karthik, insinuating that he might leak 'obscene videos' allegedly portraying women being harassed by Prajwal. Gowda insinuated that a Congress leader might be behind the potential leak, citing the acquisition of a pen drive from Karthik. Gowda stated that Kartik disclosed the pen drive handover to a Congress leader when seeking aid in a land dispute with the HD Revanna family. The BJP leader revealed that during the legal battle over the alleged false affidavit submission by Prajwal Revanna in the 2019 parliamentary election, Kartik disclosed the matter while seeking assistance to address a land dispute with the HD Revanna family. Gowda also acknowledged collecting the pen drive from Kartik solely for legal purposes. He affirmed his readiness for any probe into the alleged pen drive scandal and denied involvement in its leakage. Demanding a CBI investigation into the alleged scandal, Gowda emphasised the importance of uncovering the truth and delivering justice to the victims. He urged for a swift completion of the probe and punishment for those found guilty. SIT gets info from 5 women, may summon Revanna soon 'Won't be tolerated', says Shah Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Shah said the issue regarding Revanna reported in the media is very hurtful and cannot be tolerated in any way. The home minister said Congress has been alleging that an NDA partner's candidate is involved in the incident, ut I just want to ask a small question: whose government is there in that state (Karnataka)? The Congress is in power in Karnataka, and this matter must have come to their attention. Why has it not taken any action on it so far? We cannot take any action as law and order is a state issue, Shah said. In Delhi, Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar told reporters that the BJP has zero tolerance towards crimes against women and welcomed the decision of the JD(S) to suspend its MP Prajwal. He also accused the Congress of double standards and being selective on the issue. If the Congress government in Karnataka was aware of the case for weeks and months, then why did it not act so far against the accused, he asked. Also Tuesday, more political parties and leaders attacked the BJP-JD(S) alliance over the allegations. AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi also used a derogatory term to attack Prajwal. RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav attacked the ruling BJP at the Centre, accusing it of protecting rapists and helping them get away. Why are PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah maintaining a stoic silence over the Karnataka sex scandal? The BJP government at the Centre helped the accused (Prajwal Revanna) escape to Germany. The accused is involved in the abuse of around 2,500 women in Karnataka. What happened to their (BJP leaders) 'Beti Padhao and Beto Bachao' slogan? They (BJP) are more into protecting rapists and helping them get away, he said in Patna. Earlier in the day, 11 Congress workers were taken into preventive custody following an altercation between them and JD(S) cadres over the allegations. The Congress workers protested in front of the Denissons Hotel in Hubballi, where the core-committee meeting of the JD(S) party was held. The JD(S) cadres, who were also present there, raised slogans against the Congress government for allegedly leaking the videos and degrading the dignity of women, police said. (With inputs from ENS, PTI and ANI)

The New Indian Express 30 Apr 2024 11:57 pm

Udupi Dengue Outbreak: Health Authorities Intensify Larva Survey to Control Surge

Udupi Dengue Outbreak: Health Authorities Intensify Larva Survey to Control Surge After the recent rains, Udupi district has witnessed a concerning increase in dengue fever cases, prompting swift action from health authorities. The district's health department has launched a comprehensive larvae survey aimed at combating the outbreak. With a focus on city areas where larvae infestation is suspected to be high, the department is spearheading an anti-larval and mosquito eradication programme across the district. Since January this year, Udupi has already reported 47 cases of dengue. Last year's total number of cases was 635. Dr Prashanth Bhat, Udupi's district vector-borne disease control officer, emphasised the importance of maintaining clean surroundings and preventing water from stagnating, especially as the rainy season approaches. ''Larvae are commonly found in unused freshwater, air coolers, and discarded tires. Early detection and elimination of these breeding grounds are crucial,'' Dr Bhat stated. Recalling last year's surge in dengue cases in Udupi city areas during October, efforts were mobilised to control the mosquito population. Medical students from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, collaborated with the Department of Community Medicine, Udupi District Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (DVBDCP), and District Health and Family Welfare Department to conduct mosquito control initiatives. Similar concerted efforts are underway this year to curb the spread of dengue. Over the past few years, dengue cases in Udupi have fluctuated, with 513 cases reported in 2022, 380 cases in 2021, and 139 cases in 2020. Notably, the presence of migrant worker accommodation units in the district necessitates extra vigilance, as migrant labourers are considered a high-risk group for dengue fever, the official said.

devdiscourse 28 Apr 2024 6:06 pm

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency sees increase in voting compared to Dakshina Kannada

According to the final voting report released by the Election Commission officials, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru recorded 77.15% voting while Dakshina Kannada registered 77.56% voting

The Hindu 27 Apr 2024 8:57 pm

Karnataka High Court stays criminal proceedings against Kajal Hindustani, who was booked for speaking against love jihad in Udupi

An FIR was lodged against Kajal Hindustani in 2022 under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 34 and 153A while a chargesheet was filed against her under IPC Section 505(2).

OpIndia 27 Apr 2024 9:30 am

Karnataka: High voter turnout will keep contest tight

MANGALURU: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituencies have maintained high polling percentage in this election too. Dakshina Kannada, where newbies Capt. Brijesh Chowta (BJP) and R Padmaraj Poojary (Congress) are contesting, saw a voter turnout of 77.43 per cent (77.90 per cent in 2019). Udupi-Chikkamagaluru witnessed a clash between veterans Kota Srinivas Poojary (BJP) and Jayaprakash Hegde (Congress) and recorded a voter turnout of 76.06 per cent (75.74 in 2019) until 6pm. The marginal rise in voter turnout in these two segments is attributed to the stakes being very high this time for both the BJP and Congress, compared to the past elections. While BJP wants to keep its hold on this coastal-Malnad region, the grand old party had left no stone unturned to breach the saffron fortress. Calculations have already begun to understand which party will gain by the high voter turnout. According to political pundits, both these segments are likely to witness a touch-and-go contest, even as they give the benefit of doubt to the BJP. Last time, we won by 2.73 lakh votes in Dakshina Kannada and 3.49 lakh votes in Udupi-Chikkamagalur. This time, we cant expect such a huge margin. It will be around 50,000 in both seats, said a BJP leader and former MLA. Expressing a similar opinion, a Congress leader said the party has not counted both these seats among the 14 seats it is hoping to win in the state. However, he said it is difficult to predict the outcome at this stage, given the high voter turnout. People could have come out to vote in large numbers to support Prime Minister Modi, or because of the five guarantees of the Congress and the Billava factor. We have to wait for the results to know how it worked, he said. The thinking in the Congress is that even if they lose by over 50,000 votes, its a victory of sorts for them as it will be seen as a setback to the BJPs communal politics. The party hopes the Billava factor, NOTA campaign over Soujanya murder case, SDPI not being in the contest and a perceived discontent in local BJP units will significantly reduce the winning margin. Despite all these factors working in our favour, we see a deficit of around 60,000 votes. The gap can be covered only if Billavas and women back us in large numbers, said another Congress leader.

The New Indian Express 27 Apr 2024 7:42 am

Karnataka Poll: First Phase Witnesses Moderate Turnout of 69%

Karnataka Poll: First Phase Witnesses Moderate Turnout of 69% Voting was held on Friday for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, in 14 constituencies, with an estimated over 69 per cent turnout, as the Congress and BJP locked horns again on the electoral battleground in less than a year. According to poll officials, an approximate 69.23 per cent of the voters cast their ballot. ''This is tentative. It will vary slightly based on the detailed reports of the PRO (Presiding Officer),'' an official said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the same 14 segments in the first phase had recorded a turnout of 68.80 per cent. Out of 14 segments that went to polls on Friday, the highest turnout of 81.48 per cent was recorded in Mandya, followed by Kolar 78.07 per cent, and the least 52.81 per cent in Bangalore Central. The turnout was 54.42 per cent in Bangalore North, and 53.15 per cent in Bangalore South, amid indications of continued voter apathy in the city. Bangalore Rural that is witnessing a tough contest between Congress' D K Suresh, MP and brother of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, and Dr C N Manjunath, a noted cardiologist and son-in-law of former PM H D Deve Gowda, on a BJP ticket, has recorded 67.29 per cent. Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena told PTI that barring an incident in Chamarajanagara district, the election process was peaceful in the state. The Electronic Voting Machines were destroyed at a polling station in Indiganatha village in Chamarajanagara district during a clash between two groups of people over whether to vote or not in the Lok Sabha elections, bringing the poll process to a halt. According to the district administration, the villagers had earlier in the day decided to boycott the polls citing lack of adequate infrastructure development. However, after assurances and efforts by the local officials, a section of them agreed to vote, while the other was keen to boycott leading to clashes between them during which they destroyed EVMs, and also indulged in stone-pelting. Reacting to the incident, Meena said, ''Tomorrow, the returning officer in the presence of the observer will do the scrutiny and then they will recommend (further course of action.)'' A total of 247 candidates -- 226 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the first phase covering most of the southern and coastal districts, where more than 2.88 crore voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in 30,602 polling stations. Friday's elections witnessed a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) combine unlike the Assembly elections in May last year which witnessed a triangular contest among the three parties. In the first phase, the Congress contested in all 14 seats, while BJP fielded nominees in 11 and its alliance partner JD(S), which joined the National Democratic Alliance in (NDA) in September last year, in three -- Hassan, Mandya and Kolar. Besides the three, the segments where elections were held on Friday are: Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South and Chikkballapur. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state back then, had secured just one seat each in these 14 segments. The BJP had won in 11 and ensured the victory of a party supported independent candidate in Mandya. Other than Suresh and Manjunath, the latter's brother-in-law and JD(S) state President H D Kumaraswamy from Mandya, erstwhile Mysuru royal family scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore, from the BJP, are among the prominent candidates in the fray in the first phase. Also in the contest are BJP MP Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South against Minister Ramalinga Reddy's daughter Sowmya Reddy of Congress, and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on BJP ticket from Bangalore North against former Indian Institute of Management Bangalore professor M V Rajeev Gowda of Congress. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there is no ''Modi wave'' in Karnataka, but there is one in favour of Congress government's guarantee schemes, as he claimed his party will win about 20 out of total 28 Lok Sabha polls in the state. Asked as to how many seats the Congress will win out of 14 seats in the first phase, the chief minister said, ''it cannot be said correctly as of now, as it is a secret ballot, but we will win majority seats.'' Shivakumar, who is also the state Congress president, said he has got reports that the party will win more than 20 seats in Karnataka. ''In the first phase, Congress will win 10 of the 14 seats that went to polls today. This is not astrological predictions; this is based on political acumen and data,'' he said. Kumaraswamy said the outcome of the elections will be in favour of the NDA alliance, of which his party JD(S) is a part. Thanking voters, state BJP chief BJP Vijayendra said: ''It is our unwavering belief that your support for the security and development of India, will give strength for the Modi-led government to come to power once again in the country.'' Long queues were seen at polling booths since 7 am. Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Kumaraswamy and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also exercised their franchise.

devdiscourse 26 Apr 2024 10:16 pm

Peaceful polling witnessed in Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency with 76.06% voter turnout

With a good number of weddings slated for the day, many brides and grooms exercised their franchise before or after the ceremony

The Hindu 26 Apr 2024 9:54 pm

Kannada Film Industry's Stars Exercise Their Democratic Right in LS Polls

Kannada Film Industry's Stars Exercise Their Democratic Right in LS Polls The stars of Sandalwood did not disappoint in the election this time around too, as they trooped in and cast their votes on April 26. Not surprisingly, actors who also double up as political activists came in first. Prakash Raj was one of the early voters to come to the booth as soon as voting started. My vote is for the candidate that I have faith in, and secondly for the issues mentioned in the manifesto of the parties. I have voted against the hate and people who are dividing the country. I have voted for a good representative from my constituency, Raj told PTI Videos after casting his vote at St Joseph Indian High School which falls under Bengaluru Central constituency. Actor Darshan, who was seen campaigning for Mandya Congress candidate, Venkataramane Gowda, popularly known as Star Chandru, cast his vote in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, which is part of Bengaluru Rural constituency. He however rushed back as soon as he cast his vote and declined to comment. Actor and politician Upendra, who started his own political outfit, Uttama Prajaakeeya Party, was seen in Kathiriguppe (Bengaluru South). Vote for the country, for the state, for our children Its a very important day for democracy, everybody should respect this day. Everybody should vote, especially youngsters and first-time voters. On an average, 70% vote in Bengaluru. If the rest 30% vote too, then it will be a true democracy, he told presspersons after voting. Actor Kiccha Sudeep, who canvassed for the BJP during the Karnataka Assembly elections, decided to keep away from hustings this time. However, he was among the early voters at Bengaluru Souths JP Nagar. It is a big day. Voting is a hope, not an assurance. The problems are rising in our country. Now, the request should not be for people to come out to vote but for the political leaders for whom we are voting, he said while leaving the booth. Meanwhile, actor Ganesh was spotted standing in a long queue with his wife Shilpa Ganesh at his assigned booth in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. It doesnt matter if the queue is long and one must wait for some time. One must vote without fail since its also a responsibility bestowed upon every citizen of the country, he told the waiting reporters. The first family of Kannada film industry was also among the early voters at Poornaprajna Education Centre in Sadashiva Nagar (Bengaluru North). Actor and producer Raghavendra Rajkumar, his sons and actors Yuva and Vinay Rajkumar as well as Ashwini, wife of late actor Puneeth Rajkumar, were spotted at the booth, casting their votes. Voting is not an act of charity; it is a right. I urge all voters to vote for whoever they think can do the most for their people, said Raghavendra Rajkumar after voting. Superstar Yash came in with his wife, Radhika Pandit, to cast his vote at Hoskerehali (Bengaluru South) post-noon. After voting, the star said, The government should do what it is supposed to do and it should let people do what they are doing. I think interference should be less. Empowerment should be done, there are so many things that I expect as a citizen. Meanwhile, even as actor Dhruva Sarja was telling reporters that if needed, people must go back to their native places where they have registered themselves and vote, superstar Rishab Shetty sent his message from his native place, Dakshina Kannada. Shetty posted a picture of him flaunting his inked finger on social media, with the caption: We are proud to be citizens of a democratic country. Also, voting is not only our right but also our responsibility. To build a better society, vote without fail to elect a competent representative. I have voted for a better future for our Karnataka. Have you voted yet? His brother-in-law and superstar Rakshit Shetty was spotted at a booth in Udupi, which is also part of the 14 constituencies from Karnataka going to polls on April 26. Every time there is an election, we go back and see what happened in the last five years and what are we expecting for the next five years. Based on that we select the best leader who can lead us to the dream we have for our country and where we live, Shetty told PTI Videos after voting.

devdiscourse 26 Apr 2024 5:25 pm

Private transporters in Bengaluru fleece those going home to vote

BENGALURU: It was a pricey affair for hundreds of people in the city, who were heading out to their native places to cast their votes on Thursday. They struggled to catch buses and those who managed to catch one, had to shell out extra money to reach their destinations. With the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses, devoted to election duty to carry polling staff to their allocated booths, the general public complained they had to wait for long. In the absence of enough KSRTC buses to destinations like Mandya, Mysuru, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapur, Hassan and Kolar, private travel operators exploited the sudden surge in demand and hiked rates, some even increasing the fares four-fold. People complained that along with deploying additional buses to cater to the sudden rise in demand, the state transport department should have regulated private players from overcharging. Kempegowda Bus Terminal, Kalasipalya bus stand, Kengeri bus stand and others were overcrowded with people waiting for buses. With large groups of people leaving the city, as many as 465 BMTC buses will operate on KSRTC routes on Friday and 40 buses on Saturday. Mohammad Aziz, a voter heading to Mangaluru complained that private travel operators exploiting passengers has become common during festivals and long weekends and blamed the lack of enforcement by the transport officials. Passengers travelling to Udupi, Mangaluru, Kundapura and other regions who used to pay around Rs 800 were asked to pay more than Rs 3,000. The fares for the return ticket on Sunday have skyrocketed too. KSRTC has deployed 2,780 buses for election duty across 14 Lok Sabha constituencies. KSRTC along with BMTC deployed around 1,500 additional buses to handle the crowd.

The New Indian Express 26 Apr 2024 11:37 am

2.88cr voters to decide 247 candidates fate in Karnataka

BENGALURU: Polling in 14 constituencies of south and coastal Karnataka in Phase-2 Lok Sabha 2024 elections will begin at 7am and end at 6pm on Friday. However, given the weather conditions and heat wave alert issued by the India Meteorological Department, officials at the Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) office said all those who enter the polling booth premises till 6pm will be allowed to vote beyond that time. To ensure smooth polling this time, keeping in mind previous incidents, the CEOs office on Thursday announced that mobile phones will not be allowed inside the voting area. A tray will be kept on the table of the polling officer inside the booth, where voters will be asked to keep their phones before proceeding to the EVM. According to the CEOs office, 2,88,08,182 people are eligible to vote in Phase-2 elections in Karnataka. Of them, 1,44,17,530 are male, 1,43,87,585 female and 3,067 third gender voters. These voters will choose from 247 candidates (226 men and 21 women) in the 14 constituencies. Chikkaballapura has the highest number of 29 candidates, followed by Bangalore Central (24) and Bangalore South (22). Dakshina Kannada constituency has the least number of 9 candidates. Congress is contesting in 14 constituencies, BJP 11 and JDS three after its alliance with the saffron party. 30,602 booths in 14 constituencies... The 14 constituencies are: Hassan, Mandya, Kolar, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Mysore-Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South and Chikkaballapura. The largest & the smallest Bangalore North is the largest constituency in Karnataka. It is also among the five largest in the country with 32,14,496 voters, followed by Bangalore Rural (28,02,580). Udupi-Chikkamagaluru has the lowest number of 15,85,162 voters. To ensure smooth polling in 30,602 booths in 14 constituencies, 1,39,495 election officials and 5,000 micro observers have been deployed. In all, 65 companies along with 50,000 police personnel have also been deployed. Web casting will be done in 9,701 booths. Web casting will be done in all booths in Bangalore Rural and Mysore-Kodagu constituencies. CCTvs have been installed in 1,370 booths, said CEO Manoj Kumar Meena. To help people find their booths, for the first time in the Lok Sabha elections, we have printed the QR code on voters slips. This, when scanned, will help the voter navigate his way to the booth through GPS technology. We have launched the Chunavane App, which can be downloaded from the playstore, for people to find the status of polling booths number of people waiting in queues, parking and other facilities. Facilities such as shelter, drinking water, washrooms, emergency medicines and ambulances have been arranged, he said. In each constituency, five booths will be managed by women, one by people with disabilities and one by the youth. Around 40 tribal booths have been set up in four districts and some booths have been created with special themes. For specially-challenged voters, adequate arrangements, including ramps, wheelchairs, sign language experts, facility for attendants, braille, sufficient lighting and hearing aids, have been made. Through the Saksham App, 756 people have asked for wheelchairs, 489 have sought transport and 31 some special assistance.

The New Indian Express 26 Apr 2024 9:58 am

Polls underway in 14 Karnataka constituencies for Lok Sabha by-elections

Polls underway in 14 Karnataka constituencies for Lok Sabha by-elections Voting was underway on Friday in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in 14 constituencies in Karnataka. Polling began at 7 am and will end at 6 pm. A total of 247 candidates -- 226 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the first phase covering most of the southern and coastal districts, where more than 2.88 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 30,602 polling stations. The Congress and BJP are locking horns on the electoral battleground again in less than a year. This election is witnessing a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) combine unlike the Assembly elections in May last year which witnessed a triangular contest among the three parties. The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The second phase of polling in the remaining 14 seats is on May seven. In the first phase, while the Congress is contesting in all 14 seats, BJP has fielded nominees in 11 and its alliance partner JD(S), which joined the National Democratic Alliance in (NDA) in September last year, in three -- Hassan, Mandya and Kolar. Besides the three, the segments where elections are being held on Friday are: Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South and Chikkballapur. According to Election Commission, 1.4 lakh polling officials are on duty for the first phase. Besides them, 5,000 micro-observers, 50,000 civil police personnel, and 65 companies of Central Paramilitary Force and State Armed Police force of other States have been deployed for security. All the 2,829 polling stations of Bangalore Rural parliamentary constituency are being webcast. ''This is as per the request of our returning officers and observers; so we have given more than double the Central paramilitary force for Bangalore Rural constituency. Seven companies of Central paramilitary forces have been inducted at the constituency since April 22,'' Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena has said. In fact, out of the total 30,602 polling stations in the first phase, 19,701 are webcast, and 1,370 covered via CCTVs, he had added. Chikkaballapur has a maximum number of 29 candidates, followed by 24 in Bangalore Central, and Dakshina Kannada has the least number at nine. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy from Mandya, his brother-in-law and noted cardiologist C N Manjunath from Bangalore Rural on a BJP ticket against Deputy CM D K Shivakumar's brother and MP D K Suresh of Congress, and erstwhile Mysuru royal family scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore, from the BJP, are among the prominent candidates in the fray in the first phase. Also in the contest are BJP MP Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South pitted against Minister Ramalinga Reddy's daughter Sowmya Reddy of Congress, and Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on BJP ticket from Bangalore North against former Indian Institute of Management Bangalore professor M V Rajeev Gowda of Congress.

devdiscourse 26 Apr 2024 7:22 am

BJP and Congress Vie for Dominance in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts

Elections to the two-member constituency of Vijayapur and Bagalkot to the legislative council from local bodies is expected to see an interesting clash between Congress and BJP Elections to the two-member constituency of Vijayapur and Bagalkot to the legislative council from local bodies is expected to see an interesting clash between Congress and BJP MANGALURU: As 14 constituencies in Karnataka prepare for elections on Friday, all eyes are on the political landscape in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, traditionally regarded as strongholds of saffron outfits. Formerly bastions of the Congress, the political dynamics shifted after 1990 when the BJP began recording victories in the assembly as well as parliamentary elections. Since the 1991 elections, the BJP has consistently secured victory in the Mangalore constituency, which later evolved into Dakshina Kannada after the 2008 delimitation. While the constituency lost Kodagu, it now comprises all eight assembly segments of Dakshina Kannada district post-delimitation. Over the years, leaders like Dhananjay Kumar and DV Sadananda Gowda represented Mangalore for the BJP, with Nalin Kumar Kateel continuing the streak in Dakshina Kannada from 2009 onwards. In the current election, both Congress and BJP have introduced new contenders. BJP's Capt Brijesh Chowta faces off against Congress' Padmaraj R Poojary. While the BJP exudes confidence in maintaining its electoral dominance, Congress anticipates a resurgence, citing shifting political tides. In a similar vein, Udupi also witnessed a saffron surge in the 1990s, with IM Jayaram Shetty clinching victory for the BJP in 1998. However, Congress made inroads in the subsequent year's election in 1999 through Vinay Kumar Sorake. Manorama Madhwaraj won Udupi for BJP in 2004. Post-delimitation, Udupi merged with parts of Chikkamagaluru to form the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency. While DV Sadananda Gowda won it for the BJP in 2008, Congress candidate K Jayaprakash Hegde won the seat for a short term of two years in 2012 when the constituency faced a by-election after Gowda resigned from the MP post to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Shobha Karandlaje grabbed the constituency back to BJP and won the 2014 and 2019 elections. In the current electoral battle, BJP has named MLC and former Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary to challenge Congress' former MP K Jayaprakash Hegde. We are confident of another victory this time. The region has always supported us, appreciating our work and the leadership of Modi, asserted Uday Kumar Shetty, BJP's Mangaluru Division in-charge. However, Congress remains undeterred, banking on its welfare schemes and developmental initiatives, while also counting on anti-incumbency sentiments to sway voters in their favor.

Deccan Chronicle 25 Apr 2024 11:27 pm

1,876 polling stations in Dakshina Kannada and 1,842 in Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituencies to go for polls on April 26

Nine candidates are in the fray in Dakshina Kannada, and 10 candidates are contesting in Udupi-Chikkamagaluru with both the constituencies witnessing a direct fight between the Congress and the BJP

The Hindu 25 Apr 2024 9:12 pm

Cong, BJP lock horns again within a year as stage set for voting in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The Congress and BJP will lock horns on the electoral battleground again, in less than a year, in Karnataka as the stage is set for voting in the first phase in 14 Lok Sabha seats on Friday. It's going to be a straight fight between the ruling Congress and the BJP-JD(S) combine unlike the Assembly elections in May last year which witnessed a triangular contest among the three parties. The state has a total of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies. The second phase of polling in the remaining 14 seats is on May seven. A total of 247 candidates -- 226 men and 21 women -- are in the fray for the first phase in most of the southern and coastal districts. More than 2.88 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 30,602 polling stations where polling will take place between 7 am to 6 pm. While the Congress is contesting in all 14 seats, BJP has fielded nominees in 11 and its alliance partner JD(S), which joined the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in three -- Hassan, Mandya and Kolar. Besides the three, the segments where elections will be held on Friday are: Udupi-Chikmagalur, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South and Chikkballapur. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Congress and JD(S), which were in alliance and ruling the state then, had secured just one seat each in these 14 segments. The BJP had won in 11 and ensured the victory of a party supported independent candidate in Mandya. Having scored a thumping victory in the Assembly elections, the Congress now appears determined to put up a strong show. Karnataka is the most important state for the BJP in south India as it's only here that it had held power in the past. Its alliance partner JD(S) is fighting to remain politically relevant, after the Assembly poll drubbing, a political analyst said. According to Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena, 1.4 lakh polling officials will be on duty for the first phase. Besides them, 5,000 micro-observers, 50,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of Central Parliamentary Force and State Armed Police force of other States will also be deployed for security. All the 2,829 polling stations of Bangalore Rural parliamentary constituency will be webcast, Meena said. This is as per the request of our returning officers and observers; so we have given more than double the Central parliamentary force for Bangalore Rural constituency. Seven companies of Central paramilitary forces have been inducted at the constituency since April 22, he told reporters on Wednesday. In fact, out of the total 30,602 polling stations in the first phase, 19,701 will be webcast, and 1,370 covered via CCTVs, he said. Chikkaballapur has a maximum number of 29 candidates, followed by 24 in Bangalore Central, and Dakshina Kannada has the least number - nine. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy from Mandya, his brother-in-law and noted cardiologist C N Manjunath from Bangalore Rural on a BJP ticket, erstwhile Mysuru royal family scion Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore, also from the BJP, and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar's brother and MP D K Suresh of Congress from Bangalore Rural, are among the prominent candidates in the fray in the first phase. Also in the fray are BJP MP Tejasvi Surya from Bangalore South against Minister Ramalinga Reddy's daughter Sowmya Reddy of Congress, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje on BJP ticket from Bangalore North against former IIM Bangalore professor M V Rajeev Gowda of Congress. The Congress' performance in the elections, especially in the first phase which covers almost all Vokkaliga-dominated districts, is being seen as a big test of sorts for its state unit chief Shivakumar, who has made no secret of his ambition to become chief minister, amid speculations of change in guard mid-way of the Assembly term. Stakes are also high for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as victory in particular in his home turf '?Mysore and Chamarajanagar '? is seen as key for strengthening hands, analysts say. For the JD(S) and its state chief Kumaraswamy, the task is cut out -- to prove that the regional party is still a force to reckon with, particularly in the Vokkaliga dominated Old Mysuru or South Karnataka region. Both Shivakumar and Kumaraswamy are Vokkaligas, and are engaged in a fierce turf war to consolidate their clout over the dominant community. It is also seen as a kind of a litmus test for state BJP president B Y Vijayendra, who has the onerous task of helping the party retain its supremacy in the Lok Sabha elections. Ensuring a BJP sweep is paramount for the son of veteran leader B S Yediyurappa, to consolidate his position and silence critics who have questioned his selection for the post, overlooking seniors and seasoned hands. The ruling Congress is mostly banking on the implementation of its populist five guarantee schemes. The BJP and JD(S) seem to be leveraging the Modi factor to the hilt.

Deccan Chronicle 25 Apr 2024 10:30 am

Special Election-Bound Trains to Serve Karnataka

Special Election-Bound Trains to Serve Karnataka Anticipating a surge in travel demand during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and aiming to ease the burden of summer travel, railway authorities have unveiled special train services connecting Bengaluru with Mangaluru Central. A press release issued by the South Western Railway said Train No. 06553 Bengaluru - Mangaluru Central Special is set to depart from Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru at 6:00 PM on April 25 (Thursday), reaching Mangaluru Central at 10 AM the following day. Train No. 06554 Mangaluru Central - Bengaluru Special will depart from Mangaluru Central at 12 PM on April 26 (Friday), arriving at Sir. M Visvesvaraya Terminal in Bengaluru at 3 AM the next day. Additionally, South Western Railway authorities have announced the Yesvantpur Kundapur special express to connect Bengaluru with Udupi. Train No. 06547 will leave Yesvantpur in Bengaluru on April 25 at 11:20 PM, arriving at Kundapur the following day at 10:45 AM. The return journey from Kundapur to Yesvantpur, Train No. 06548, is scheduled to depart from Kundapur at 11:20 AM on April 26, reaching Yesvantpur at 9:50 PM on the same day. These special trains have been introduced with voting slated for 14 out of the 28 Lok Sabha seats on April 26. The aim is to facilitate seamless travel for voters from the coastal region, Railways said.

devdiscourse 24 Apr 2024 9:16 pm

Stage set for contest between two heavyweights in Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency

The Congress makes every effort to wrest the seat from the BJP that has won the elections in the three general elections post delimitation

The Hindu 24 Apr 2024 7:18 pm

Karnataka Election Commission Files 189 Major Election Violation Cases

Karnataka Election Commission Files 189 Major Election Violation Cases As Karnataka gears up for the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 26, the Election Commission on Wednesday said all the polling stations in the Bangalore Rural and Mysore constituencies will be webcast. As of now, a total of 189 cases have been booked against political parties or candidates for major violations under the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), they said. Addressing a press conference here, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Meena said 1.4 lakh polling officials will be on duty at the 30,602 polling stations across the 14 constituencies which are going for polls in the first phase on Friday. Besides them, 5,000 micro observers, 50,000 civil police personnel, 65 companies of Central Parliamentary Force and State Armed Police force of other States will also be deployed for security at these polling stations, he said. ''All the 2,829 polling stations of Bangalore Rural parliamentary constituency will be 100 per cent webcast. This is as per the request of our returning officers and observers; so we have given more than double central parliamentary force for the Bangalore Rural Constituency. Seven companies of central paramilitary forces have been inducted at the constituency since April 22,'' Meena said. Out of the 30,602 polling stations --- 19,701 polling stations will be webcast while 1,370 will be covered via CCTVs, he said. Out of the total 189 cases booked against political parties or candidates 23 are related to hate speeches, 28 related to inducement, and 15 related to misuse of religious places among other MCC violations, the official said. Listing out the alleged MCC violations by political parties, he said for hate speech, 12 cases have been booked against BJP or its candidates, nine cases against Congress and two cases against JD(S). In connection with inducement, eight cases have been filed against BJP, nine against Congress, three against JD(S) and eight against independent candidates or unrecognised political parties. For misuse of religious places, eight cases have been booked against BJP, six against Congress and one against an independent candidate. For using children for canvassing, seven cases each have been booked against BJP and Congress and one against an independent candidate, he added. The 14 segments facing polls in the first phase are: Udupi-Chikmagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikkballapur and Kolar. There are a total of 2,88,19,342 electors in these constituencies -- 1,44,28,099 male, 1,43,88,176 female and 3,067 third gender, according to the poll body. Chikkodi, Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar, Koppal, Bellary, Haveri, Dharwad, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere and Shimoga will go to polls in the second phase on May 7. In these constituencies, there are a total of 2,59,52,958 electors 1,29,83,406 are male, 1,29,67,607 are female and 1,945 are third gender -- and 28,269 polling stations.

devdiscourse 24 Apr 2024 5:12 pm

Research and training needed to sustain and increase quality of Yakshagana performance

The Infosys Foundation Yakshagana Development, Training and Research Centre building built at a cost of 15.8 crore inaugurated in Udupi

The Hindu 21 Apr 2024 8:31 pm

Combing operations launched amid suspected naxal sightings around Karnataka border

Combing operations launched amid suspected naxal sightings around Karnataka border Amid suspected naxal sightings in and around the areas of Karnataka bordering Kerala, the police have launched combing operations in the neighbouring areas and made adequate arrangements for upcoming Lok Sabha elections, officials said on Sunday. The general elections in Karnataka will be held in two phases on April 26 and May 7 for its 28 constituencies. Speaking to PTI videos, Arun K, Superintendent of Police Udupi said that some days ago, there were suspected naxal sightings in and around the Karnataka-Kerala border. However, around five-six years ago, there were no naxal sightings on this side of Karnataka. ''We have coordinated with anti-naxal force and have started combing operations in the neighbouring areas. We have started the anti-naxal squads in the concerned district and are also trying to collect information from the local public regarding any naxal activities,'' he said. The officer further said it has been ensured that all the naxal-affected polling booths will be given central paramilitary force protection on the day of polling. ''As of now, we don't expect any issues but we have made adequate arrangements to ensure peaceful elections,'' he said.

devdiscourse 21 Apr 2024 1:24 pm

Shobha Karandlaje under pressure to win in her party stronghold

Shobha Karandlaje under pressure to win in her party stronghold After she was shifted to Bangalore North segment for the coming Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje is determined to prove a point or two and wants to ensure that BJP continues its winning streak here. Bangalore North has remained a BJP stronghold since 2004 and the 57-year-old is banking on the ''Modi factor''. She is facing Congress candidate and former Rajya Sabha member M V Rajeev Gowda, who is putting up a spirited fight. Both belong to the Vokkaliga community. Karandlaje is a two-time MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur but was moved out after she faced a ''Go back Shobha'' campaign there from a section of her party. Karandlaje has been telling people how India is on the development path in the past 10 years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. ''This is an election to save India's culture and 'Sanatana' traditions,'' the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, who hails from coastal Karnataka, said. According to BJP sources, she has a strong backing of former Chief Minister and BJP stalwart B S Yediyurappa. Since 2004, BJP is holding this seat, which was a Congress fortress from 1952 to 2004 barring the 1996-1998 period when the then Janata Dal's C Narayanaswamy was the MP. Former Railway Minister late C K Jaffer Sharief was the longest serving MP of this constituency who represented it seven times, including for five terms uninterruptedly from 1977 to 1996. Since 2004, BJP had three MPs from here-- former Karnataka Director General of Police H T Sangliana, late D B Chandre Gowda and former Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who were all considered ''outsiders''. Of the eight Assembly segments under Bangalore North, five are represented by the BJP and the rest by the Congress. Karandlaje is known for indulging in ''communally divisive'' speech and polarisation which people don't want here, alleges Rajeev Gowda, who is making his debut in the Lok Sabha elections. People want to enjoy a good quality of life and grow and prosper, and don't want this area to become communally charged and divided, says the former Professor of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore where he taught economics and policy. The Chairman of the AICC Research Department appeared upbeat about his electoral prospects. There is no Modi wave in Karnataka in this Lok Sabha election, the 60-year-old claimed. It's the five guarantee schemes of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government delivered within 10 months of coming to power that are helping people who are in trouble, he said. Also, the ''sense of injustice'' to Karnataka (in terms of devolution of funds by Centre) and the (dismal) record of the previous BJP government here are what will work in favour of the Congress, he added. ''We did not get proper candidates'', a voter said referring to BJP fielding ''outsiders'' here in the last few elections. ''People who were rejected elsewhere have been dumped here on us. We are not happy,'' the voter added. Nearly 12,000 voters opted for 'None Of The Above' in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls here.

devdiscourse 21 Apr 2024 11:30 am

Man killed as lightning strikes Kanthavara, 12 houses partially damaged in Udupi district

The first summer showers bring down the soaring temperature across Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts

The Hindu 20 Apr 2024 9:11 pm

Kamalamma and the waters of Bengaluru

Myself Kamalamma from Kunjibettu, Udupi. What to tell you! We people are playing around with nature so much that even our Lord Indra is full confused. He is sending too much rain in desert cities...

The Times of India 20 Apr 2024 1:29 pm

Heavy rain accompanied by loud thunder and lightning in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka

The rain was accompanied by loud thunder and lightning. While the night witnessed a downpour, the intensity of rain had reduced in the morning

The Hindu 20 Apr 2024 10:18 am

Karnataka government focusing on harnessing more solar power, says Energy Minister

K.J. George says that the government is ready to extend its support if the existing private thermal power plants like Adani Power Ltd. in Udupi decides to expand their power generation capacity

The Hindu 19 Apr 2024 9:19 pm

From hills to sea, this LS electorate grapples with unique issues

Political history and current issues of Udupi-Chikmagaluru LS constituency, including healthcare, road projects, and environmental concerns

The Hindu Businessline 18 Apr 2024 9:55 pm

Over 97% of home voting recorded in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituencies

Home voting in Dakshina Kannada went on for three days from April 15 and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency for five days from April 13

The Hindu 18 Apr 2024 9:26 pm

Infosys Foundation Yakshagana Development, Training and Research Centre to be inaugruated in Udupi on April 21

The building has been built for Yakshagana Kalaranga of Udupi at a cost of 15.8 crore

The Hindu 18 Apr 2024 8:57 pm

Bangalore North: BJP leader Karandlaje being 'controversial' is plus for me: Cong's Rajeev Gowda

Bangalore North: BJP leader Karandlaje being 'controversial' is plus for me: Cong's Rajeev Gowda BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje is known for indulging in communal division and polarisation which people don't want here, alleges Congress leader M V Rajeev Gowda as he takes on her in Bangalore North constituency in the coming Lok Sabha polls. People want to enjoy a good quality of life, grow and prosper, and don't want this area to become communally charged and divided, says the former Professor of Indian Institute of Management Bangalore where he taught economics and policy. Bangalore North has been a BJP stronghold for a long time, but the chairman of the AICC Research Department appeared upbeat about his electoral prospects. There is no Modi wave in Karnataka this Lok Sabha elections, the 60-year-old claimed. It's the five guarantee schemes of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government delivered within 10 months of coming to power are what is helping people who are in trouble, he said. Also, the ''sense of injustice to Karnataka (in terms devolution of funds by Centre) and the (dismal) record of the previous BJP government here are what will work in favour of the Congress.'' A national spokesperson of the Congress and a former Rajya Sabha member, this is the first time that Gowda is contesting for Lok Sabha elections. Gowda said he is ''very very'' confident of winning as people of his constituency are happy to have an educated and qualified candidate who has already done ''good work'' for Bengaluru and Karnataka. ''We are getting very good response from people. Our party is united, our cadre is working unitedly,'' claimed Gowda, who had earlier served as Vice-Chairman of Karnataka Policy and Planning Commission. He said a plus for him in the polls is that Karandlaje -- the Udupi-Chikmagalur MP who was shifted to Bangalore North by BJP -- is a ''very controversial candidate.'' ''She faced 'go back' slogans in Udupi-Chikmagalur from her own people.here (Bangalore North) also enough people are not cooperating with her... So basically, people feel like this is not a candidate they want to support,'' he claimed. ''They want to switch towards my side. Then there's another side of people who say look, this lady only causes communal confusion, division and polarisation and are not happy with that. Bengaluru people want to enjoy a good quality of life and grow and prosper. They don't want this area to become communally charged and divided,'' he told PTI in an interview. Gowda said his chances of winning are very good, noting that out of eight Assembly segments coming under the Lok Sabha constituency, three are with the Congress, one BJP MLA (S T Somashekar representing Yeshwanthpur) is not cooperating with her (Karandlaje) and he is campaigning for him. ''So it's now four Assembly segments that are in our favour.'' ''In Dasarahalli, the previous JD(S) MLA has come and joined the Congress. It has given us a lot of strength. In KR Puram again, a whole bunch of corporators from the BJP have joined us and that also gives us strength. So, overall, we have tremendous momentum in three-fourths of the constituency. We have to figure out how to create similar momentum in the other two smaller seats and we are working on that.. So overall, the campaign is positive and favourable,'' he explained. ''Last time, there was a Modi wave but this time there is no such major crisis that causes people to go back to BJPPeople are favouring us because we have already delivered. Everyone knows Prime Minister Modi just keeps making announcements and you know, we're not sure what we'll actually get from him later on kind of a thing,'' he added. On the BJP-JD(S) electoral alliance, Gowda claimed that the regional party is in its ''last days''. ''Unfortunately for them, they're going to be swallowed up by the BJP. They've made too many compromises along the way and a lot of secular supporters of the JD(S) outreach to the Congress this time so it's not going to help them at all,'' he said.

devdiscourse 18 Apr 2024 12:00 pm

Mangaluru & Udupi next IT hub? How two towns can become the 'Silicon Beaches of India' leaving Bengaluru behind

Mangaluru and Udupi, despite their coastal charm and ample infrastructure, are striving to attract more IT investments and establish themselves as significant IT hubs. With key players setting up satellite offices and real estate developers investing in IT-friendly infrastructure, the cities aim to overcome challenges such as branding issues and lack of policy support. Stakeholders emphasize the need to build a robust ecosystem for innovation and collaboration to realize the region's IT potential.

The Economic Times 15 Apr 2024 10:01 am

How two Karnataka cities are raring to scale IT growth

Of the 220+ IT businesses they host, Mangaluru & Udupi cities added 40 in the past year alone

The Times of India 15 Apr 2024 8:05 am

PM Modi's Mangaluru Roadshow Draws Enthusiastic Crowd

MANGALURU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a 2 km long roadshow on Sunday evening. The hour-long roadshow started from Brahmashree Narayana Guru Circle and culminated at Govinda Pai Circle. Upon his arrival at Mangaluru International Airport, Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by BJP leaders before heading straight to lead the roadshow. As he traversed the route from the Airport to Narayana Guru Circle, Modi waved at the people standing along the road. At around 7.40 pm, Modi reached Brahmashree Narayana Guru Circle, where he offered floral tribute to the statue of social reformer Narayana Guru, before proceeding to board the specially decorated open vehicle for the roadshow. Modi was felicitated with a garland, shawl, peta, and 'Atte Prabhavali,' with the Udupi Sri Krishna idol. Modi was dressed in a saffron BJP cap and wore a saffron and green shawl. Standing to Modis right was Udupi-Chikkamagaluru candidate Kota Srinivas Poojary, while Dakshina Kannada candidate Capt Brijesh Chowta stood to his left. The trio brandished illuminated Lotus emblems, extending warm waves of greeting to the enthusiastic crowds lining the streets. On both sides of the road, spectators showered flowers towards Modi's vehicle as it passed by. People had gathered not only from Mangaluru but also from various places of Dakshina Kannada district, as well as Udupi and nearby districts. Many had arrived as early as 4 pm, for a close-up view of Modi. They were heard shouting Modi Modi, Jai Sri Ram, Abh Ki baar 400 paar, and the local Tulu exclamation, Batteru Batteru Modi ji Batteru, (Modi has come). Honnappa and Vinaychandra Senerebettu, who had come from Belthangady, expressed their joy at witnessing Modi's presence near Ladyhill. Cultural programs adorned the roadside, featuring artists showcasing a variety of performances including the Huli Vesha (Tiger Dance), 'Chande' performance, and Yakshagana. As flowers were tossed towards Modi, SPG commandos maintained a vigilant watch, ensuring that no object, including flowers, touched him. Notably, Capt Brijesh Chowta was seen displaying alertness, intercepting any object including flowers from reaching Modi. He halted flowers, preventing them from falling upon the Prime Minister. Capt Brijesh Chowta had served in the Indian army. The fauji within him comes out and he stops flowers from reaching Modi, a Modi supporter who had attended the roadshow was heard saying. Modi graciously took the flowers gathered on his vehicle and tossed them back to the crowd. He engaged with the crowd by waving, displaying illuminated emblems, and occasionally folding his hands in greeting. Among the spectators, many held up photos of Modi, wore masks bearing his likeness, carried his cutouts, and waved BJP flags. As the excitement soared, attendees snapped photos and recorded videos, while others eagerly attempted to capture a selfie or video with Modi in the background. This is the first such roadshow being held in Mangaluru by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the earlier elections, he had participated in rallies. However, this time instead of a rally, the party held a roadshow. In the previous Lok Sabha election, the BJP secured victories in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi-Chikkamagaluru. BJP has held power in the Dakshina Kannada for three and a half decades. With hopes of replicating this success, party leaders believe that the roadshow will not only energize party workers but also generate momentum in favor of the BJP. The response to the roadshow has been remarkable. A large number of people gathered, indicating its success, and we are confident of the BJP's victory in this election, Mangaluru Viabhag Prabhari Uday Kumar Shetty told Deccan Chronicle. The one-hour-long roadshow concluded at Govind Pai Circle around 8.45 pm.

Deccan Chronicle 15 Apr 2024 12:19 am