Legislative Council polls: Congress a divided house in Karnataka

Bengaluru, Dec 6: The Congress is facing the heat of rebellion ahead of the upcoming elections to the Karnataka Legislative Council from the local bodies scheduled for December 27.

At least two party leaders, who were aspiring to contest the polls, have threatened to enter the fray as rebel candidates. Sitting Congress MLC, B T Dayanand Reddy, declared on Saturday that he would contest the polls from the Bengaluru Urban constituency even as the party has announced the candidature of M Narayanaswamy, a close follower of Congress MLA from KR Puram, B A Basavaraj.

Former MP Jayaprakash Hegde, Dakshina Kannada district Congress general secretary Harikrishna Bantwal, and party leader Bhujang Shetty have decided to contest from Dakshina Kannada-Udupi constituency as rebel candidates. The party has selected Pratap Chandra Shetty as its candidate.

“I have informed my stand to the party that I will be filing my nomination papers on Monday. I will withdraw from the fray only if any other candidate other than Pratapchandra Shetty is fielded. Shetty had addressed letters to the electorate expressing his unwillingness to contest. But he has been given the ticket. I had sought a ticket as I am willing to contest. Isn’t it appropriate to issue the ticket to an aspirant who is interested, rather than to an aspirant who is unwilling. Aren’t there any eligible aspirants in the party to become an MLC?” said an upset Hegde.

Many Congress leaders in Ballari too are upset with the party’s decision to field K C Kondaiah from the Ballari local body constituency.

Two former Union ministers, Veerappa Moily and K H Muniyappa, are vying for tickets for their followers to contest from Kolar.

While Moily wants Anil Kumar as the candidate, Muniyappa is batting for N Ramesh. Muniyappa met both Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwara separately and urged them to give ticket to Ramesh.

The party has not yet finalised its candidate for Kolar.When contacted, Dayanand Reddy said Siddaramaiah had denied ticket to him in order to please Basavaraj.

“The party has given ticket to all the sitting MLCs. Only I am denied a ticket. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy is also responsible for the party not giving me ticket. But I will file the nomination papers. Let the party take action against me,” he said.

Ramalinga Reddy, has in a statement, said that Dayananda Reddy had hardly involved himself in the party activities.

Sharief seeks ticket for grandson

Senior Congress leader C K Jaffer Sharief on Saturday urged the chief minister to give the party ticket to his grandson Rehman Sharief to contest the byelection to the Hebbal Assembly constituency.

The seat has fallen vacant following the recent death of Jagadish Kumar, the BJP MLA.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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