My victory is 'triumph of honesty', says Jayaprakash Hegde

March 21, 2012

Mangalore, March 21: The newly elected MP of Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency Jayaprakash Hegde has described his poll victory against BJP candidate Sunil Kumar as the “victory for honesty”

Speaking to 'Coastaldigest.com' after the announcement of bypoll results, Mr Hegde said that the results have proved that there was scope for good people too in politics.

“This is just a beginning. A wave of change awaits the region in politics”, he added.

Mr Hegde also said that he would utilize the opportunity to serve the people of this constituency and solve their problems.

'Return of Minorities'

He said that one of the reasons for his victory was the return of minority votes to the Congress. “Though the secular votes were divided due to the presence of JD(S) in the poll fray, minorities did not commit a mistake. They have consolidated and voted for us,” he opined.

He also said that each and every worker and leader of Congress in the constituency, who campaigned for him relentlessly, were responsible for his victory.

In Udupi district, Hegde said the major supporters of BJP - Konkanis and Brahmins - had voted for the Congress as they were disappointed by the scam-tainted BJP government and the Porngate incident. He said unlike in 2009, when it was a direct fight between the parties, Brahmins in Sringeri have also supported him this time. “I am grateful to the people of all section, religion and castes for voting me”, he added.

Asked whether former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa's absence in the BJP's campaign helped him, Mr Hegde said it was their internal affair and nothing to do with Congress.

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Mangaluru’s KPT becomes India’s first autonomous govt polytechnic

News Network

January 23,2026

Mangaluru: The Karnataka Government Polytechnic (KPT), Mangaluru, has achieved autonomous status from the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), becoming the first government polytechnic in the country to receive such recognition in its 78-year history. The status was granted by AICTE, New Delhi, and subsequently approved by the Karnataka Board of Technical Education in October last year.

Officials said the autonomy was conferred a few months ago. Until recently, AICTE extended autonomous status only to engineering colleges, excluding diploma institutions. However, with a renewed national focus on skill development, several government polytechnics across India have now been granted autonomy.

KPT, the second-largest polytechnic in Karnataka, was established in 1946 with four branches and has since expanded to offer eight diploma programmes, including computer science and polymer technology. The institution is spread across a 19-acre campus.

Ravindra M Keni, the first dean of the institution, told The Times of India that AICTE had proposed autonomous status for polytechnic institutions that are over 25 years old. “Many colleges applied. In the first round, 100 institutions were shortlisted, which was further narrowed down to 15 in the second round. We have already completed one semester after becoming an autonomous institution,” he said. He added that nearly 500 students are admitted annually across eight three-year diploma courses.

Explaining the factors that helped KPT secure autonomy, Keni said the institution has consistently recorded 100 per cent admissions and placements for its graduates. He also noted its strong performance in sports, with the college emerging champions for 12 consecutive years, along with active student participation in NCC and NSS activities.

Autonomous status allows KPT to design industry-oriented curricula, conduct examinations, prepare question papers, and manage academic documentation independently. The institution can also directly collaborate with industries and receive priority funding from AICTE or the Ministry of Education. While academic autonomy has been granted, financial control will continue to rest with the state government.

“There will be separate committees for examinations, question paper setting, boards of studies, and boards of examiners. The institution will now have the freedom to conduct admissions without government notifications and issue its own marks cards,” Keni said, adding that new academic initiatives would be planned after a year of functioning under the autonomous framework.

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