Assembly polls: Saffron party desperately wants a victory in Kasaragod district

[email protected] (CD Network)
May 1, 2016

Kasaragod, May 1: The land of seven languages portrays a contrasting political landscape in the run-up to the elections to the State Assembly. Political pundits have put the district under close watch, for the poll outcome in three key constituencies here is crucial for the major players in Kerala politics.

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While Manjeswaram witnesses a fierce fight among the Indian Union Muslim League, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Bharatiya Janata Party, Kasaragod could perhaps be the lone segment in the district where the IUML and BJP are locked in a straight fight. The scenario in the traditionally Left stronghold of Uduma has assumed new dimensions with the United Democratic Front fielding the firebrand Congress leader K. Sudhakaran in a bid to end the CPI(M)'s free run here since 1991.

Manjeswaram

In Manjeswaram, one of the few segments in the State where the BJP hopes to make its maiden entry into the Assembly, the three fronts have opted to field the same candidates who contested the 2011Assembly election.

Though a native of Kozhikode, K. Surendran, the BJP nominee, has been the runner-up in the segment during the last five elections.

Sitting IUML MLA P.B. Abdul Razak is hopeful of retaining the seat harping on the development projects he has initiated in the relatively backward area in the last five years.

The unconditional support offered to the Left Democratic Front by the influential Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Abubacker Musliyar and the possible anti-incumbency factor have given new hopes for CPI(M) nominee C.H. Kunhambu.

Uduma

Mr. Sudhakaran's entry has electrified the UDF camp at Uduma and the allies are found working overtime to ensure his victory. UDF campaign managers seem to believe that the front had to bite the dust in the past for want of a formidable candidate. The UDF had a majority of 835 votes in the segment in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The LDF's victory margin was 11,380 in the last Assembly elections. Sitting MLA K. Kunhiraman of the CPI(M) and BJP district president K. Sreekanth are his opponents.

Kasaragod

Sitting MLA N.A. Nellikkunnu of the IUML, who has been representing the Kasaragod segment eight times in a row, is facing a close contest from Hindu Aikyavedi State vice president and BJP nominee Kundar Raveesha Tantri. Being the chief priest of over 50 temples in the region, he commands respect from a wide spectrum of society. The presence of the Indian National League, Social Democratic Party of India, and People's Democratic Party in the fray and the unending delay in resolving the six-decade long drinking water crisis in the town and adjoining localities could mar the prospects of the IUML, which enjoys considerable grassroots support there. LDF-supported INL candidate A.A. Ameen is also in the fray.

LDF ahead in campaign

In the Left strongholds of Kanhangad and Thrikkarippur, CPI's E. Chandrasekharan, MLA, and CPI(M)'s M. Rajagopalan respectively have moved far ahead in the campaign, while the electioneering of Congress nominees Dhanya Suresh and K.P. Kunhikannan has just picked up momentum.

Putting the lingering endosulfan issue on the backburner, the fronts appear to highlight the stagnated or slow-paced developmental initiatives in the district as a major poll plank. When the UDF boasts of creating the new taluks of Manjeswaram and Vellarikkundu, initiating measure for the establishment of the government medical college at Badiadukka, and streamlining the road network, the LDF blames the ruling front for the tardy growth rate of the district. The BJP accuses the rival fronts for keeping the region under perpetual neglect despite governing the State successively for over six decades.

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News Network
May 8,2024

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru North police have apprehended a minor in connection with alleged voyeurism incident reported in a private medical college in Mangaluru. 

DCP (Law and order) Sidharth Goyal said that the minor was produced before JJ Board as per due procedure. The incident came to light when a mobile phone was found in women's washroom in the college. 

The mobile-phone was discovered as it was ringing even when no one was in the toilet by the security guard of the college. 

Investigations revealed that the mobile phone had been strategically placed in the restroom. As a result, a case has been registered under north police station.

Further scrutiny into the matter uncovered the identity of the accused, a minor male aged 17, who had gained access to the college premises under the guise of being a patient. Following his apprehension, the accused was presented before the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board in adherence to legal protocols.

The phone has been seized and a case has been booked under IPC section 354 (C), said the DCP.

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News Network
May 10,2024

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A day after National Commission for Women said no woman from Hassan approached the national body to file complaints against Karnataka MP Prajwal Revanna, a new FIR accusing BJP leader Devaraje Gowda of abusing and assaulting a woman has come to light.

The FIR against Gowda was filed by a woman at the Holenarasipura town police station on April 1, after her husband had filed a complaint against the BJP leader on March 30. 

The purported victim's husband has alleged in his plaint that Gowda barged into their home, and threatened the couple while the BJP leader also abused the woman.

Gowda, notably, flagged Prajwal Revanna's case to the saffron party.

Reacting to the allegations levelled against him, the BJP politico posted a video on Facebook where he details how he met the woman and her husband in his office. He also claims that the allegations against him are a plot and false.

It must be noted here that a Special Investigation Team is currently probing the sexual assault cases against Prajwal Revanna who along with his driver Karthik is no longer in the country. A Blue Corner notice is also in place to apprehend the son of H D Revanna who himself is placed under judicial custody till May 14.

In a major twist to the entire case— the woman in the FIR alleged that Devaraje Gowda who apprised BJP of the sex videos involving Prajwal Revanna— has been harassing her for the past 10 months under the guise of helping her sell a property.

The woman also said that she came in contact with Gowda during the process involving the property that she wanted to sell. However, on the pretext of guiding her, the woman alleged that the whistleblower BJP leader physically assaulted and harassed her while Gowda also threatened the couple.

The woman has now sought police protection for herself and family. Further levelling allegations against Gowda in her plaint, she said that the politico had taken her to an isolated place where he assaulted her and threatened to kill the couple.

Former chief minister of Karnataka and Prajwal Revanna's uncle H D Kumaraswamy recently demanded a CBI probe in the Prajwal Revanna matter. However, Home Minister G Parameshwara turned down the demand for the investigation to be handed over to CBI.

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News Network
May 6,2024

Mangaluru, May 6: A five-year-old girl from Arendur village of Siddapura taluk of Uttara Kannada district died of Kyasanur Forest Disease (monkey fever) recently.

As her health deteriorated, she was admitted to the KMC Hospital in Mangaluru, where she failed to respond to the treatment and died on Friday night.

It is learned that the KFD is slowly spreading to the newer areas of coastal and malnad areas of Karnataka

According to officials, KFD spreads due to bites of ticks that generally survive on monkeys. This tick bites humans which causes the infection. Humans also contract the disease by coming in contact with cattle bitten by ticks.

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