Mangalore gripped by Anna fever, dharna, processions continue

August 18, 2011

Mangalore, July 19: With anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare all set to start his 15-day hunger strike at the Ram Leela Maidan later on Friday, Mangalore is braced for another round of protests as more and more groups have started taking to streets in solidarity with the cause.

On Thursday, Mangalore witnessed a spate of protests, dharnas and processions. After students, doctors and NGOs it was the turn of lawyers yesterday as large number of black-court wearing men and women marched from the court premises in Kodialbail to the DC office and handed over a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.

The silent procession culminated with a meeting ourside the DC office premises where the district president of the advocates association S.C. Chengappa expressed support to Anna's fight against corruption. “India ranks 87 in corruption. Only organized efforts can help to contain corruption,” he said.

He also made it clear that the fight was not against any political party or politicians as a tribe. “We will fight against corrupts irrespective of their party affiliations,” he said.

The office-bearers of the association Ganesh Shenoy, Vittal Rai, Sridevi, Narasmimha Hegde and others were present.

Meanwhile, the Bantwal unit of the advocates association also held protest in BC Road and demanded a strong Lokpal Bill to root out corruption.

Separate protests and demos were also held by Rashtriya parisara mathu vanyajivi premigala okkuta, Karnatkaa Rakshana Vedike, district unit of the Jayakarnatka, Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike, South Canara Photographers Association.

The student sof Sunkadakatte College held separate protest by boycotting their classes and assembling at the DC office.

The Mangalore chapter of Indian Medical Association also held a day-long demonstration in front of their office in Attavar.

A large number of medical students also joined the protest. Office-bearers of the association Dr. Mohandas Bhandary, Dr. Mukund, Dr. Annayya Kulal, Dr. K. R. Kamath were among those present.

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Campus politics: DKS pushes to restore student elections in Karnataka banned since 1989

News Network

November 26,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 26: Karnataka is taking its first concrete steps towards lifting a three-decade-old ban on student elections in colleges and universities. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Wednesday that the state government will form a small committee to study the reintroduction of campus polls, a practice halted in 1989 following incidents of violence.

Speaking at a 'Constitution Day' event organised by the Karnataka Congress, Mr. Shivakumar underscored the move's aim: nurturing new political leadership from the grassroots.

"Recently, (Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi wrote a letter to me and Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) asking us to think about restarting student elections," Shivakumar stated. "I'm announcing today that we'll form a small committee and seek a report on this."

Student elections were banned in Karnataka in 1989, largely due to concerns over violence and the infiltration of political party affiliates into campus life. The ban effectively extinguished vibrant student bodies and the pipeline of young leaders they often produced.

Mr. Shivakumar, who also serves as the Karnataka Congress president, said that former student leaders will be consulted to "study the pros and cons" of the re-introduction.

Acknowledging the history of the ban, he added, "There were many criminal activities taking place back then. We’ll see how we can conduct (student) elections by regulating such criminal activities."

The Deputy CM reminisced about his own journey, which began on campus. He recalled his political activism at Sri Jagadguru Renukacharya College leading to his first Assembly ticket in 1985 at the age of 23. "That's how student leadership was at the time. Such leadership has gone today. College elections have stopped," he lamented, adding that for many, college elections were "like a big movement" where leaders were forged.

The move, driven by the Congress high command's push to cultivate young talent, will face scrutiny from academics and university authorities who have, in the past, expressed concern that the return of polls could disrupt the peaceful academic environment and turn campuses into political battlegrounds.

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