Siddaramaiah, aides brainstorm to shore up sliding image of Congress

December 16, 2016

Bengaluru, Dec 16: Trouble has escalated for the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka, the lone major state ruled by the Congress. The party is suffering a string of setbacks and embarrassments ahead of the all-important 2018 assembly election, making it rather easy for the BJP to achieve its objective of setting up a Congress-mukt Bharat.

If KJ George was embroiled in the MK Ganapathi suicide drama, and Tanveer Sait in a WhatsApp gaffe, which have together done enough damage, former minister HY Meti's sex scandal and I-T raids on senior government officials has come as the last straw for the ruling party which has plainly demonstrated that it is no different from the BJP when it comes to scams, sex and sleaze.

In 2010, BJP's then food and civil supplies minister H Halappa was forced to resign after it was alleged that he had sexually assaulted his friend's wife when the minister stayed with the couple for a night, during a visit to the district. In 2012, two BJP ministers in Karnataka were allegedly caught watching porn film clips on a mobile phone on the floor of the state legislative assembly.

The Rs 16,000-crore iron ore mining scam ensured the final nail in the saffron party's coffin in 2013.

Now, the big question is whether chief minister Siddaramaiah would measure up to the daunting challenges of reviving the image of the Congress in Karnataka. His first test is already here, with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi scheduled to visit Belagavi to address a party workers' conference on Saturday, as a prelude to the 2018 assembly election.

Siddaramaiah had plans to set the stage for the Congress to take on PM Narendra Modi's demonetization and lift the mood of despondency in the party, following the George and Sait episodes, but Meti's case played spoilsport. On Thursday, he cancelled his visit to Mysuru and reportedly spent the day with his confidants, discussing how to ensure the success of the show.

A senior party leader said Siddaramaiah has already been holding talks on organizing programmes and tours to popularize some of his government's flagship schemes, before coming out with a populist budget next year, with the focus on the Ahinda community. He also plans to release the controversial caste census report to send out a message to the community and ensure their support in 2018.

Sandeep Shastri, political analyst, sounded optimistic while arguing about the old political theory that public memory is short. "If the party gets its act together, works as a team, reaches out to all segments of society, it can rebuild and revive its image,'' he added.

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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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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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