Prepare to face mid-term elections in November: Mistry to Cong workers

January 10, 2012

Mangalore, January 10: Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party led Karnataka government of spreading communalism in the state and dividing the people, All India Congress Committee general secretary Madhusudan Mistry called upon the voters to teach an unforgettable lesson to the communal forces.

Addressing party workers at a meeting, Mr Mistry, who is also in-charge of the party in the State, asked the Congress workers to prepare for elections as the government in the State would not last long. “The State is likely to face mid-term elections this November”, he predicted

Asking the State not to follow the Gujarat-model and to adopt its own style, he said: “The Gujarat model is based on thousands of dead bodies. Many need justice,”

He asked party workers to visit villages and make people aware of the State Government's failures and the achievements of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government. “The UPA Government has passed many progressive laws,” he claimed and added that it was committed to pass the Women's Reservation Bill.

President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) G. Parameshwara said there was a feeling among party workers that there were differences in the party in the State. Mr. Mistry had asked him to tour all the districts and meet party workers to sort out differences if any. The party leaders were starting their tour from Dakshina Kannada.

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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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