Siddu and Yeddy lock horns in trailer to 2018 assembly polls

[email protected] (News Network)
April 3, 2017

Bengaluru, Apr 3: As the date for the bypoll to the Nanjangud and Gundlupet assembly segments draws near, the pitch of the campaign has attained furious levels. The bypolls are being seen as a precursor to the assembly elections, due in little over a year, with the fortunes of chief minister Siddaramaiah and BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa hinging on the outcome.

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Siddaramaiah has deputed a veritable posse of ministers - 21 of them - to campaign in both the constituencies. In fact, two heavyweights in the party - energy minister DK Shivakumar and public works minister HC Mahadevappa have respectively been given charge of Gundlupet and Nanjangud, a clear indication of the importance the Congress attaches to the bypolls. The two ministers have their task cut out - ensure the two constituencies that are considered Congress citadels are not breached by the BJP.

The Ahinda (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and dalits) factor is likely to play a huge role in both constituencies, where Lingayats - the community Yeddyurappa belongs to - are the majority. "Currently, the voters are either pro-Siddaramaiah or anti-Siddaramaiah. These bypolls are the semi-finals for the CM before he heads into the finals, the 2018 assembly elections," sources in the Congress said.

For Siddaramaiah, a loss in Nangangud, a reserved constituency for SCs, could be an indication of the party losing favour with the dalits. Meanwhile, defeat in Gundlupet could prove costlier since the party hoped to ride on the sympathy wave by fielding Geetha Mahadeva Prasad, wife of the late minister HS Mahadeva Prasad, whose death necessitated the bypoll.

For the BJP, it's been a Yeddyurappa show all the way. The former CM has been tramping the streets of both the constituencies. He has been campaigning frenetically in Nanjangud, where dalit stalwart and former minister Srinivasa Prasad, who quit the Congress last year, is the BJP candidate. "While the party's central leadership is not looking at these bypolls as a referendum, the results mean a lot for Yeddyurappa, who is positioning himself as the CM candidate," said BJP sources.

Sources close to the BJP state chief pointed out that the party lost seven of the 10 byelections in Uttar Pradesh that were held immediately after the 2014 general elections. "Aditya Nath Yogi was in charge of the bypolls, but the debacle did not decrease his importance," they added.

The BJP is hoping for former Union minister SM Krishna to join the campaign from Monday, while the Congress's strength has been bolstered with the seven suspended JD(S) MLAs throwing their lot with the party. JD(S) MLA B Zameer Ahmed Khan said, "I will campaign in both constituencies from Tuesday. We are doing this to keep the BJP out. I campaigned for BJP MP B Sriramulu when he formed his party."

What does victory mean for these leaders

*Siddaramaiah

Detractors in the party will be silenced

*BS Yeddyurappa

Strengthen his hold of the party at a time when senior leaders have been questioning his leadership

V Srinivasa Prasad

Retaining Nanjangud will reaffirm his stature as a dalit leader, proving that his popularity is independent of party affiliation

DK Shivakumar

With his name doing the rounds for the KPCC president's post, a win in Gundlupet will serve to bolster his image

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru CEN police have arrested a 23-year-old man for allegedly posting provocative and misleading content on an Instagram page named “mr_a_titude”, targeting the Bajpe police.

Mangaluru Commissioner of Police Sudheer Kumar Reddy C H identified the arrested as Abhishek M, a resident of Katipalla in Mangaluru.

A case has been registered at the Bajpe Police Station under Sections 353(1)(c), 353(2), 56, and 57 read with Section 189 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with the post.

According to police, the accused uploaded a photograph of a hotel on the Instagram page and alleged that accused persons in a murder case under the Bajpe police jurisdiction were being given “royal treatment” by the police, including being served beef meals daily from the hotel.

The post further accused the police of supporting criminals, misusing their authority, and betraying public trust. Police said the content was provocative in nature and aimed at inciting public outrage against the police.

Following the post, a case was registered at the Bajpe police station, and further investigation was transferred to the CEN police station.

Police records indicate that the accused has a criminal history, with multiple cases registered against him, including murder, attempt to murder, assault, and robbery at the Surathkal Police Station, and one case at the Kaup Police Station.

The Commissioner said the accused was traced and arrested using technical evidence.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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