Resentment erupts in BJP over Pratap Simha 's candidature

March 14, 2014

Mysore, Mar 14: Strong resentment among local party leaders came to fore in BJP with the allotment of party ticket for Mysore-Kodagu parliament seat to a journalist who hails from Hassan district and known for his reactionary ideology. Journalist himself has twitted that " he is a rightist in his ideology".

Local leaders were under the impression that the party will select either the former lok sabha member C H Vijayshanker, or former chief minister Sadananda Gowda or former minister Shoba Karandlaje . Even the former minister V Somanna and Kodagu legislator Appachu Ranjan's name were also doing rounds for the seat.

Especially C H Vijayshanker's followers who were hoping against hope for a ticket to their leader who lost the last election by a narrow margin to Congress were a disgusted lot .

But the party high command's nod to journalist Pratap Simha's candidature came as a shock for the local leaders and the leaders who huddled at the party office decided to send their strong resentment .Even some of them threatened to work against the party if the party goes ahead with decision to field the journalist a rank outsider.

Expressing his ire at party proposing the name of Pratap simha, Vijayshanker said why party workers even the presidents of eight assembly segments and the two district president have not seen the face of this journalist . How they will be able to convince the people in 2000 villages dotting the constituency to vote for BJP ,? he asked, adding that he categorically told the party leaders that the result will be disastrous for the party if an outsider is selected.

"Why I should go to Hassan, I am born and brought up and worked and elected to parliament from Mysore there is no need for me to shift the constituency" he said when asked whether he is ready to accept the party ticket if he is asked to contest from Hassan.

In the central election committee meeting, there were strong differences among leaders on fielding journalist Pratap Simha from Mysore. Though the RSS suggested his name for Udupi-Chikmagalur seat, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa strongly pitched for Shobha Karandlaje and reportedly suggested to offer Simha a seat elsewhere.

Saying that the proposal to field Simha has already created problems within the Mysore unit with senior leader C H Vijay Shankar refusing to campaign, some leaders suggested fielding Simha from Hassan as the party has no suitable leader there. Besides, contesting from Mysore would not be easy for Simha, as the party also faces leadership issues there after former minister A Ramdass got embroiled in an alleged love affair, some leaders said in the meeting.

The RSS felt it would be difficult for Simha to take on JD(S) heavyweight H D Deve Gowda, but some state leaders said since Hassan was Simha 's home district, it would end up becoming a triangular fight among Vokkaliga leaders, as the Congress has also fielded a Vokkaliga in A Manju.

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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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Mangaluru NRI returning from Saudi Arabia arrested over Instagram post

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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Udupi NRI duped of Rs 12.25 lakh in Telegram investment scam

News Network

December 4,2025

Udupi: A 40-year-old NRI from Udupi has reportedly lost more than Rs 12.25 lakh in an online investment scam operated through Telegram.

According to a complaint filed at the CEN police station, Leo Jerome Mendonsa, who has been working in Dubai for the past 15 years in computer accessories sales, maintains NRI accounts in Karkala and Nitte.

On November 12, 2025, Mendonsa was added to a Telegram group called Instaflow Earnings by unknown individuals. Users identified as Priya and Dipannita persuaded him to invest in “Revenue Tasks.” Initially, Mendonsa transferred Rs 1,100 multiple times and received the promised returns, encouraging him to continue.

On November 14, another user, Nishmitha Shetty, directed him to register on a website, digitvisionuoce.cc, and invest Rs 4 lakh in various shares. Over the next few days, he made multiple transfers totaling Rs 12,25,000, including Rs 50,000 via Google Pay, believing the scheme was legitimate.

After receiving the money, the alleged handlers stopped responding, and neither the invested amount nor the promised profits were returned.

The CEN police have registered a case under Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the IT Act and Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigations are ongoing.

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