Cong-JDS combine will win 20 plus Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, hopes Gundu

Agencies

March 2, 2019

Bengaluru, Mar 2: The ruling Congress-JD(S) alliance will win more than 20 out of total 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka during the coming Lok Sabha elections, state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao claimed on Friday.

"Since we are going in coalition this time in Karnataka, in more than 20 constituencies, the Congress and JD(S) will win," Rao said.

Speaking to reporters after inducting former Molakalmuru BSR Congress MLA Thippeswamy into the party, the KPCC chief said his decision to join the party would help Congress win Chitradurga constituency with much higher margin this time.

According to him, there are good prospects for the Congress-JD(S)alliance this time with its decision to go for polls together. The party's performance was affected during assembly polls in the region due to various reasons, but local leaders were united now, Rao said.

Congress' B N Chandrappa is sitting MP from Chitradurga. Chitradurga is one of the constituencies, which JD(S) is keen on contesting this time.

Congress and JD(S) leaders are scheduled to discuss seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls at the coalition coordination committee meeting on March 4.

In the first round of talks on seat sharing, held on February 25, the Congress insisted that winnability would be the criteria, while JD(S) maintained its stand to contest from 12 seats.

According to party sources, JD(S) is said to be keen on contesting from Mandya, Hassan, Bangalore North, Mysuru, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Chitradurga, Raichur, Bidar, Bijapur, Uttara Kannada, and Shivamogga.

Congress is opposed to this, and has maintained that sharing of seats will be based on "merit".

According to party insiders, the grand old party is looking at limiting the JD(S) to six seats.

Also, there is pressure from within the Congress not to cede too many seats to JD(S), specially ten seats where party has sitting MPs, Chitradurga being one of them.

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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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