Campaign for Udupi-Chikmagalur bypoll ends

March 17, 2012

Udupi, March 17: Curtains came down on the two-week public campaigning for the by-election to the Lok Sabha from Udupi-Chikmagalur constituency at 5 p.m. on Friday.

All political parties put their best foot forward in the final days of the public campaigning. They did all they could to convey their message to voters through public meetings, door-to-door campaigning, 'padayatras', road-shows, and two-wheeler rallies.

The campaign was intense this time. The unending rounds of press conferences by all major political parties kept journalists on their toes.

The biggest surprise in the campaign turned out to be the sudden joining of the former Minister Manorama Madhwaraj to the BJP. No one in the media had a clue about it. But after her joining the party, Ms. Madhwaraj was nowhere to be seen in the campaign.

The JD(S) tried to improve its fortunes in the district by inducting the former Udupi MLA U.R. Sabhapathi into the party. The stage shook when the Congress launched its campaign for the by-poll, but mercifully did not come down.

Prominent leaders such as S.M. Krishna, K.H. Muniyappa, M. Veerappa Moily, G. Parameshwara, B. Janardhana Poojary, and Oscar Fernandes for the Congress, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, H.N. Ananth Kumar, K.S. Eshwarappa, R. Ashok, Shobha Karandlaje, S.A. Ramdas, and Govind Karjol for the Bharatiya Janata Party, and H.D. Deve Gowda and H.D. Kumaraswamy campaigned for the Janata Dal (Secular).

Actors added a touch of glamour to the campaign. They included Umashree, Bhavana, Ramya and Adi Lokesh who campaigned for the Congress, Tara and Srinath for the BJP, and Pooja Gandhi for JD(S).

Though the public campaigning has stopped, political parties will, however, do door-to-door campaigning on Saturday.

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From Dubai boom to Bengaluru backlash: Inside CJ Roy’s journey

News Network

January 31,2026

Bengaluru: The shooting incident involving CJ Roy, founder of the Confident Group, has once again put the spotlight on a businessman whose life has swung between flamboyant global success and persistent controversy at home.

Though Roy’s business interests extended across continents, his roots lay firmly in Karnataka. An alumnus of Christ School in Bengaluru, he later moved to Tumakuru to pursue an engineering degree. Those familiar with his early years describe him as intensely ambitious, beginning his career as a salesman at a small electronics firm dealing in computers.

Roy’s entry into large-scale real estate came through the Crystal Group, where he worked closely with Latha Namboothiri and rose from manager to director. However, the launch of the Confident Group in 2005 was clouded by industry speculation. Insiders speak of a fallout involving alleged “benami” properties and claims of deception that ultimately led to his independent venture—an episode Roy spent years trying to distance himself from, according to associates.

A tale of two cities

Roy’s professional trajectory diverged sharply across geographies.

In Dubai, he built a reputation as a bold and efficient developer, completing massive luxury residential projects in record time—some reportedly within 11 months. His rapid project delivery and lavish lifestyle in the Emirates earned him admiration and visibility in the real estate sector.

In Bengaluru, however, his image remained far more fractured. Sources say Roy stayed away from the city for several years amid disputes over unpaid dues to vendors and suppliers. Several projects were allegedly stalled, with accusations of unfulfilled commitments to cement and steel suppliers continuing to follow him.

Roy’s return to Bengaluru’s business and social circles began around 2018, marked by a conscious attempt at rebranding. His appointment as Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic added diplomatic legitimacy, which he complemented with visible CSR initiatives, including ambulance donations and high-profile charity events.

Heavy police presence in Langford Town

Following the incident, police personnel from the Central division were deployed outside the Confident Group building in Langford Town, which also houses the Slovak Honorary Consulate in Bengaluru.

The otherwise busy premises near Hosur Road wore a deserted look on Friday, reflecting the shock and uncertainty that followed the tragedy.

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