Twin districts get four ministerial berths; Rai, Khader, Jain, Sorake take oath

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)

May 18, 2013

Mangalore, May 18: In a historic move, the new Congress government has allotted four ministers from twin coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

While three of them-Bantwal MLA?B?Ramanath Rai, Mangalore MLA?U?T?Khader and Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake have been given the cabinet berths, Moodbidri MLA?Abhayachandra Jain has been given the rank of Minister of State.

Ever since the Udupi district was carved out of undivided Dakshina Kannada district in 1997, there have been four elections - in 1999 (Janata Party), 2004 (Cong-JD(S) &?JD(S)-BJP), 2008 (BJP) and 2013 (Congress) and for the first time three persons from DK have been made ministers by any government in the State.

While the J?H?Patel-led Janata Party government had only one minister (B?A?Moideen) from Dakshina Kannada district (Jayaprakash Hegde from Udupi), B?Nagaraj Shetty became the minister from DK in 2004 and Krishna J?Palemar was made the minister in 2008 elections.

However, the year 2013 proved lucky for three MLAs from the Dakshina Kannada, the highest number of ministers ever since the Dakshina Kannada district was separated from Udupi in 1997.

Taking Kaup MLA?Vinaykumar Sorake into account, the number of ministers in coastal districts would go up to four.

However, if you take the undivided Dakshina Kannada district into account, then the credit of giving highest number of portfolios goes to Veerappa Moily government (1992-94) when six MLAs from the coastal districts were made ministers. They include - Blasius D'Souza, Ramanath Rai, Manorama Madhwaraj and Vasanth Salian besides Veerappa Moily (Chief Minister).

Celebrations

The Congress leaders and party workers in Dakshina Kannada district erupted with joy as the district got its major share in the newly formed State cabinet on Saturday. The sense of expectation was naturally high as the district has given seven Congress MLAs in the recently held Assembly elections.

In return, three newly-elected MLAs from the district have been inducted in the ministry of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The party leaders and workers unanimously welcomed the moment when Bantwal MLA Ramanath Rai and Mangalore MLA U T Khader swore in as cabinet ministers and Moodbidri MLA Abhaychandra Jain swore in as the State Minister on Saturday. The party workers burst crackers in front of the District Congress office in Mangalore to celebrate the selection of three political leaders from the district as ministers.

Siddaramaiah inducts 28 Ministers, largely keeps tainted away

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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