Our own men helped BJP win MLC polls: Cong leaders tell Sonia

Bengaluru, Jul 3: A section of state Congress leaders have complained to the party high command suspecting the role of someone in their own party in the victory of BJP's second candidate Lehar Singh in the recent Legislative Council elections.

This comes close on the heels of a series of complaints lodged with the high command after the political unrest that followed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's Cabinet reshuffle.

The BJP,?with just 44 MLAs, managed to get both its first and second candidates - V?Somanna and Lehar Singh - elected. Singh was short of 14 votes but won by apparently securing the votes of independents and members of smaller parties in the June 10 elections. Since it is a secret ballot, there is no way of knowing who voted for whom.

A section of Congress leaders suspect their own partyperson influenced a few independents and associate members to vote for Singh. The complaint also states that one or two Congress legislators may have cross-voted in favour of Singh, party sources said.

The complaint also states that a few party leaders had a tacit understanding with the BJP. The move has damaged the prospects of the Congress in the state, it has been stated. This section in the Congress also believes the party should have secured the support of the JD(S)?for its third candidate for the Rajya Sabha elections - K?C?Ramamurthy - and in return support the JD(S)' second candidate S?M?Venkatpathi in the Council elections.

The group in the Congress has also blamed decision makers in the party for rubbing JD(S)?leader H?D?Deve Gowda the wrong way. The group believes the government should have heeded to Gowda's request to reserve the post of Hassan zilla panchayat president so that it favours the party. The move would have helped Congress in forging alliances with the JD(S)?in several hung ZPs.

The complaint has been addressed to AICC?president Sonia Gandhi with a copy marked to party national vice-president Rahul Gandhi seeking their intervention, sources said. However, no leader was ready to be reveal his/her name in the media.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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