MLC polls: BJP expels rebel Yatnal for six years

Vijayapura, Dec, 13: The BJP expelled former Union minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal from the party for a second time on Saturday after he failed to withdraw his nomination as a rebel candidate from the Vijayapura double-member constituency for the Legislative Council elections.

Even on Saturday, the last day for withdrawal of nominations, Yatnal did not relent from his decision to contest the election as a rebel. Considering this as anti-party activity and amounting to indiscipline, the BJP expelled him for six years, according to a press statement issued by party State president Pralhad Joshi.

According to a BJP leader, BJP?national vice president B?S?Yeddyurappa was informed about Yatnal’s rebellious stand, but the former chief minister refrained from reacting. However, Joshi decided to immediately take disciplinary action, sources said.

Yatnal and Minister S R Patil have locked horns in the Vijayapura double-member constituency. Senior leaders Jagadish Shettar and Yeddyurappa had made a vain bid to convince Yatnal to withdraw from the fray.

When contacted by this newspaper, Yatnal said, “Shettar tried to convince me to withdraw the nomination. I told Shettar that Joshi would be soon completing his tenure as the party State president. And the replacement should be Yeddyurappa. Besides, Yeddyurappa should be projected as the chief ministerial candidate in the next elections. I would have withdrawn the papers had my demands been met. Neither Shettar nor Joshi assured me anything.”

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From malls to highways, Kannada signboards to be enforced in Dakshina Kannada

News Network

February 4,2026

Mangaluru: Urban local bodies and gram panchayats should make the use of Kannada on signboards mandatory while issuing trade licences to commercial establishments, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV said. He also called for regular inspections to ensure compliance.

Presiding over the District Kannada Awareness Committee meeting at the deputy commissioner’s office, Darshan said the city corporation would be directed to ensure that shops operating in malls prominently display their names in Kannada. “All commercial establishments, including shops, companies, offices and hotels, must mandatorily display their names in Kannada on signboards,” he said.

The deputy commissioner added that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would be instructed to include Kannada on signboards along national highways. Banks, he said, would be directed through committee meetings to provide application forms in Kannada.

“Even if English-medium schools and colleges impart education in English, their signboards must display the institution’s name in Kannada. Steps will also be taken to ensure that private buses display place names in Kannada,” Darshan said.

During the meeting, committee members raised concerns over the closure of Kannada-medium schools in rural areas due to a shortage of teachers and stressed the need for immediate corrective measures. They also pointed out that several industries employ workers from other states while overlooking local candidates.

Members further demanded that nationalised banks provide deposit and withdrawal slips in Kannada. It was brought to the deputy commissioner’s notice that the presence of staff without knowledge of Kannada in rural branches of nationalised banks is causing hardship to local customers.

Meanwhile, MP Srinath, president of the District Kannada Sahitya Parishat, urged the district administration to allot land for the construction of a district Kannada Bhavana in Mangaluru.

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