CM’s wish is to field charismatic Ramya from a BJP bastion in Bengaluru

coastaldigest.com news network
November 30, 2017

Even though speculations are rife that Congress may field actor-turned-politician Ramya from Mandya Assembly constituency in 2018 Karnataka polls, chief minister Siddaramaiah’s wish is to field her from one of the 28 constituencies in Bengaluru.

An open-minded Siddaramaiah believes that fielding Ramya would add charisma to the campaign and will boost the morale of the workers in Bengaluru, particularly in the Bharatiya Janata Party-dominated constituencies.

Political pundits opine that shifting Ramya to Bengaluru is a better option for Congress as the Mandya is being represented by another actor-turned-politician M H Ambareesh.

Mr. Ambareesh is said to be keen to contest from Mandya, projecting himself as the “son of the soil”, though he declared, in filmy style after the meeting with the Chief Minister recently, that he “does not care whether a Soumya or a Ramya or a Suma” contests from the constituency.

Former MP Ramya, who heads the Congress’ social media outreach, lost in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Mandya. The fans of Ms Ramya still hold Mr Ambareesh camp responsible for this defeat. Both the stars, who have a similar trajectory in politics and belong to the same community, have been on a cold war in the heartland of Vokkaliga politics.

Various top Congress leaders are on a different page with regard to where Ms Ramya will contest from. According to D K Suresh, Bengaluru Rural MP, “Ramya has not sought ticket from Mandya, but the people in the constituency want Ramya to contest as she is active both in State and national politics.” On Ms Ramya renting a house in Mandya, he said it had nothing to do with her electoral ambitions.

Energy Minister D K Shivakumar has said that Ms Ramya would play “an active role in State politics”. She will contest either from Mandya or from Basavanagudi, he said, adding that she would be the “star campaigner” of the party for the coming polls in the State. Basavanagudi is considered as a BJP bastion in Bengaluru.

However, the party’s working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said Mr Ambareesh is the party’s senior leader and he plays an important role in decision-making. “There is no question of sidelining him, and the party high command will take a decision on whom to field in Mandya,” he said.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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