After trying luck in KJP, BSR Congress, Pooja Gandhi rejoins JD-S

coastaldigest.com news network

April 21, 2018

Bengaluru, Apr 21: Kannada actress Pooja Gandhi, who had quit Janata Dal-Secular in 2012, today rejoined the regional party expressing hope that H D Kumaraswamy would become the chief minister after the May 12 Karnataka assembly polls.

Pooja had quit the JD(S) to join the former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s Karnataka Janata Paksha. She had, however, quit KJP too, to join Badavara Shramikara Raitara Congress Party (BSRCP) of Sriramulu, which had fielded her from Raichur in 2013. After suffering a setback in those elections, Pooja had stayed away from politics.

Pooja will not contest the upcoming polls, but will campaign for the party across the state, party sources said.

While actor Amulya joined the party two days ago, actor-turned-politician Shashi Kumar joined the party on Thursday.

The party has also released a video clip, in which another popular Kannada actor Rachita Ram is seen appealing to the electorate to vote party leader H D Kumaraswamy to power.

While Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, also an actor, has already begun campaigning for the party, the party is also desperately hoping for Sandalwood star Sudeep to join the party.

Telugu actor Pawan Kalyan too will campaign for the party, the sources said.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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