Ananth Kumar predicts early collapse of UPA government

March 11, 2012

Udupi, March 11: Bharatiya Janata Party General Secretary H N Ananth Kumar said on Saturday that the Congress was in a pathetic situation after the results of the five State Assembly elections were announced.

He told presspersons here that it would be no surprise if the UPA government collapses by the end of the budget session. New political realignments will take place at the Centre, he said.

He also said that the Congress president Sonia Gandhi had admitted that organisational weakness was responsible for the failure of the party in Uttar Pradesh.

The allies of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were getting restive. The Congress had become a liability for the allies of the UPA and the country, Mr. Kumar said.

Bypoll

He said the BJP would win the bypoll to the Lok Sabha from Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency because of its track-record of development.

He told presspersons here that there was a triangular fight in the constituency as the Janata Dal (Secular) wanted to find its own ground here. Though the Congress and the JD(S) were two faces of the same coin, they were fighting against each other fiercely. This was a new political development.

As Udupi-Chikmagalur MP, D.V. Sadananda Gowda had worked for widening of national highway 66 in Udupi district. It was because of his efforts, Bangalore-Mangalore train got extended to Karwar. He was instrumental in the development of Koti Chennayya Theme Park, Mr. Kumar said.

He had responded to the problems of coffee and arecanut growers in Chikmagalur district.

Udupi district had seen development under the leadership of Mr. Sadananda Gowda and former Minister V.S. Acharya in the last four years. “Hence our candidate V. Sunil Kumar will,” Mr. Kumar said.

“AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes was Udupi MP for 17 years, and Union Corporate Affairs Minister M. Veerappa Moily, who was earlier Chief Minister of the State, had done nothing for the development of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts,” Mr. Kumar said.

Asked if former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would campaign for the BJP in the bypoll as there were only six more days left for campaigning to end, Mr. Kumar said: “All leaders of the BJP will campaign in this constituency by March 16.”

Local BJP leaders Udaykumar Shetty, Kiran Kumar, Shyamala Kundar, Mattar Ratnakar Hegde, and Jyoti Putturaya were present.

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No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

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