Congress likely to field Shakuntala Shetty from Puttur once again

coastaldigest.com news network

January 8, 2018

Puttur, Jan 8: Amidst rumours of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee searching for a ‘better’ candidate for Puttur constituency, Chief minister Siddaramaiah has dropped hints giving ticket to sitting MLA Shakuntala Shetty in the upcoming assembly elections too.

"It is your duty to ensure Shakuntala Shetty's victory once again," Siddaramaiah told a packed crowd in Puttur, where he unveiled projects worth Rs 66.86 crore.

He praised the only woman legislator in the district for bringing funds worth Rs 800 crore into Puttur, during her tenure since 2013. However, as witty as he is, the chief minister took a slight dig at the MLA for switching over to the BJP in the previous decade, before coming back into the Congress.

Siddaramaiah also made it clear that Bantwal MLA and minister for forest, ecology and environment, Ramanath Rai, and Mangaluru constituency MLA and food and civil supplies minister, U T Khader, will also be given tickets from their respective constituencies.

He praised the "healthy competition" among the seven Congress legislators in the district, in connection with raising funds for their respective constituencies.

Shakuntala, earlier in her speech, had stressed on the point, saying since 1980 to 2013, the cumulative amount brought in by legislators to Puttur, was far less than the Rs 800 crore that she raised as an MLA in four years and eight months. She said a road development project in Puttur town will be taken up in two months at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

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She is CongRSS. If ticket for her cong will lose this seat.

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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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