Collective effort led to bypoll wins: minister

Bengaluru, Apr 18: Home Minister G Parameshwara said there is no reason to feel elated over just two byelection victories.

In an interaction with reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, the minister said, “The party’s interest is more important than our personal egos. The Congress could win because voters stood by the party. If the party has to retain power, then collective leadership is important.”

He said that when he met party leaders in Delhi last week, he was asked to be prepared to take up more responsibility.

Asked who might replace him, Parameshwara said there are many eligible leaders including D?K?Shivakumar. But the high command takes the final decision, he added.

Energy Minister D?K?Shivakumar, replying to questions from reporters, said he has not submitted an application seeking the president’s post. “I am not lobbying for the post. There are people who are supporting me. But some are resisting too. But I have neither applied for the post nor am I waiting for it,” he said.

Asked whether Siddaramaiah was opposed to his occupying the post, he shot back saying, “You ask him (CM). I have done the work entrusted to me.”

Water Resources Minister M B Patil said he is not an aspirant for the KPCC president’s post, but he said he is ready to take up any responsibility given by the party.

He told reporters that AICC president Sonia Gandhi had summoned him to Delhi last year and asked him whether he was ready to head the party in the state. He said he had told her that he has immense responsibility as the water resources minister. “I have cleared my stand on the subject. But the decision of the party is final.”

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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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