MLA dreams of transforming Mangalore into Singapore!

October 23, 2011

Mangalore, October 23: Over a decade after then-chief minister S M Krishna's ardent dream of transforming the metropolitan city of Karnataka into 'Singapore', was subsided, a promising politician from coastal Karnataka has floated a new idea of converting Mangalore into Singapore.

The event was the 81st founder's day of the Vijaya Bank organised in Mangalore on Sunday. The Deputy Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assemble N Yogish Bhat, who represents Mangalore South constituency, participating in the programme, stated that this coastal city can be made like Singapore, where natural features are retained.

Laying emphasis on potential of tourism in Dakshina Kannada district, of which Mangalore is the headquarters, he pointed out the need of infrastructural development and improving the transportation system, to achieve this goal.

Stating that he had a detailed discussion with the chief minister DV Sadanada Gowda, on how Dakshina Kannada could be developed into a model district, with specific roles for the government and the private sectors, the MLA expressed his desire to move ahead the builders, contractors and architects in developmental works.

Pointing out at the progress achieved by the district so far in the field of education and health, he said that this achievement would play its own role in Dakshina Kannada becoming an international tourism destination.

Tourism can also help people of the region develop economically, socially and educationally, he added.

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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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