Congress willing to join non-NDA govt to stop Modi

April 26, 2014

New Delhi, Apr 26: With elections still to be held for 194 seats, the Congress has not thrown in the towel but is exploring options of cobbling up the required numbers for a UPA-III or even joining a non-NDA government at the Centre to prevent Narendra Modi from coming to power.

However, these calculations would hold true only if the NDA led by Modi fails to reach anywhere near the half-way-mark – 272 seats – and also fails to attract any of the regional parties.

“As the other alternative, the Congress and the Third Front can form the government. We will try to form a secular government,” Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was quoted as saying in a report from Mumbai.

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A section of Congress leaders in Delhi have also been thinking aloud about the possibility of “joining” a non-NDA government at the Centre, if not leading it. But the idea of being a minor partner in the government still appears too hard to digest for the Grand Old Party.

“We do not expect Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Jayalalitha, Mamata Banerjee or Naveen Patnaik to support Modi,” a senior Congress leader said, contending that reports the party was receiving from all over the country indicated that Modi would not become the prime minister.

He added that Modi had already antagonised the regional satraps by launching sharp attacks on them in his rallies in their respective states.

This talk of a possible UPA-III or the Congress joining a non-NDA dispensation has gained momentum suddenly ahead of the last three phases of the Lok Sabha polls. As many as 194 constituencies would go to polls in these phases, including 47 in Uttar Pradesh, 32 in West Bengal and 14 in Bihar. Not all Congress leaders share the idea of a UPA-III or joining a non-NDA government to stop Modi.

“My priority is to save the party and not form a government just to fulfil the wishes of a few leaders of becoming ministers,” another senior leader said, on condition of anonymity.

In an apparent shifting of stance, the Congress has brought to the fore a “failed idea” of quotas for backward Muslims in government jobs.

In an addendum to its manifesto, the Congress has said it was committed to finding a way forward to earmark reservation of 4.5 per cent for backward Muslims in the existing OBC reservations.

At the same time, Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal said that the Congress had not published a sub-manifesto and the minority quota was part of the suggestions made during public consultations by Rahul.

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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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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