Division of votes will help Congress, says Poojary

March 7, 2012

Mangalore, March 7: Former Union Minister Janardhan Poojary has opined that the presence of JD(S) candidate in Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha bypoll would benefit Congress, as it leads to division of anti-Congress votes.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday Mr. Poojary said that the atmosphere that prevails in both poll-bound districts is favorable to Congress.

“Congress is determined to win as the poll result will create fresh magnitudes in the political scenario of the State. Details of BJP's failures besides their scams will be presented before voters”, he said.

He also said that Janata Dal(S) has no base in Udupi district. It had some influence in Chikmagalur district. Though JD (S) talks of secularism, it joins hands with communal forces whenever it suited its political aims, he added.

“In fact JD(S) was not serious about contesting the by-poll. It has filed a candidate only to help the BJP because of an understanding between the former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda”, he said. However, division of anti-Congress votes between the BJP and JD(S) would affect the former more, he opined.

He also said that there would be no triangular contest in the by-poll. Instead, there is a straight fight between the Congress and the BJP here, he said.

He said Congress had never compromised on its secular principles unlike the JD (S). It was the former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy who had joined hands with the BJP to form a Government, without informing his father Mr. Deve Gowda. “The Congress is putting in all efforts to win the by-poll. The party high command is keeping a strict vigil on the election work done by the Congress leaders,” he said.

Demanding that Income Tax Department should take up suo-moto cognisance over Sriramulu's confessional statement revealing that he had offered Rs 200 crores to Yeddyurappa and to party fund during last assembly polls, Poojary said it is the grave offence to use that amount of funds for the purpose of elections and charges can be filed in accordance with IPC Section 171. The BJP was bought by Reddy brothers and Sriramulu. Sriramalu has openly said that BJP was constructed by them. Income Tax Department should hold inquiry into the issue, he demanded.

Heavily coming down on CM Sadananda Gowda, Poojary said that the CM has lost his mental balance who leads an incompetent government. He has no control over his ministers. Public are fed up with the chaotic rule of BJP. Yeddyurappa has created record by becoming the first ever former CM to go behind the bars in the history of state, he said.

Poojary condemned the attack on media personnel by advocates and termed it as absolute failure of the government. He said police failed to handle the entire incident and they were mere spectators in the venue.

Stating that the UPA government has taken strict action against all those ministers involved in the scandals, he alleged that the BJP has utterly failed to take measures against the tainted ministers. As many as 11 ministers in BJP state cabinet are charged under various scandals, he added.

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Mangaluru–Kasaragod bus fare rolled back after Kerala protests force NHAI to shut Arikkady toll plaza

coastaldigest.com news network

February 5,2026

Mangaluru: The KSRTC Mangaluru division has rolled back the fare hike on buses operating on the Mangaluru–Kasaragod route following the suspension of toll collection at the Arikkady toll plaza near Kumbala in Kasaragod district.

The fare revision had been implemented after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) began toll collection at the Arikkady plaza on NH-66. As a result, fares for ordinary and Rajahamsa services were increased by ₹7 and ₹10, respectively, raising the bus fare from Mangaluru to Kasaragod from ₹81 to ₹88.

Senior Divisional Controller of KSRTC’s Mangaluru division, Rajesh Shetty, said the fares were reduced after toll collection at the Arikkady plaza was stopped. “The tollgate began operations on January 13, and the toll amount was deducted from the FASTag accounts of KSRTC buses operating on the route. Following an order from the central government to suspend toll collection, KSRTC has also withdrawn the additional fare with immediate effect,” he said.

At present, vehicles travelling on the Mangaluru–Kasaragod route pay toll only at the Talapady toll plaza. The toll for light motor vehicles (LMVs) at Talapady is ₹80 for a same-day return, while heavy vehicles, including buses, are charged ₹250. At Arikkady, the toll rates were ₹130 for LMVs (same-day return) and ₹450 for buses.

Protests against Arikkady toll plaza

The Arikkady toll plaza witnessed widespread protests from January 12, the day toll collection commenced. On the second day, an action committee led by Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf launched an indefinite protest at the site. Except for the BJP, leaders and workers of most major political parties participated in the agitation.

On the night of January 14, a large number of protesters gathered at the plaza and vandalised property, following which authorities temporarily suspended toll operations. The BJP later also expressed opposition to the toll plaza and criticised NHAI’s decision.

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