Can Jayaprakash Hegde be JDS-Cong candidate from Udupi-Ckm in 2019?

coastaldigest.com web desk

December 8, 2018

Udupi, Dec 8: Speculations are rife in political circles that former minister K Jayaprakash Hegde, who is currently lodged in Bharatiya Janata Party, may migrate to Janata Dal (Secular), if the ruling party of Karnataka assures him of ticket from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Mr Hegde, who was elected to the parliament in 2012 bypoll to Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency as a Congress candidate, later lost the constituency to BJP’s Shobha Karandlaje in 2014 general polls.

He joined the saffron party in March 2017, almost one and a half year after he was expelled from the Congress for contesting the state legislative council polls as a rebel candidate. Prior to becoming an MP, he was elected thrice to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from the Brahmavara constituency and served as minister holding various portfolios.

Sources say that Mr Hegde is not happy with the way BJP leaders treating him for past one and a half year. Though Mr Hegde, has not publicly expressed his dissatisfaction so far, sources say that he has been silently working towards taking a big step ahead of looming Lok Sabha polls.

On the other hand, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who wants to strengthen JD(S) in coastal Karnataka, is also reportedly considering to welcome Mr Hegede, who has a large number of supporters in the region.

JD(S) requires green signal from Congress before fielding any candidate in 2019 polls if the two parties formally enter a seat sharing agreement. Congress may face rebellion from its local leaders in Udupi and Chikkamagaluru districts if it allows JD(S) to field candidate in the constituency, where regional party is currently in third position after BJP and Congress.

If BJP agrees to field Mr Hegde from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency, both Congress and JD(S) may face a tough challenge. However, political pundits believe that BJP may think twice before finalising candidate as it has to give priority to “original” Hindutva leaders over “migrants” to avoid rebellion within the party.

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South Kanara not require such indecent multi tangue politicians. This fellow is misues our voting right.Keep on changing his colour like chameleon.

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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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