Mangaluru: In the wake of India's accomplishment with Chandrayaan-3, the Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative Limited (CAMPCO) has made an appeal to the Union Government to establish an ISRO laboratory unit in Udupi, as a tribute to the esteemed space research scientist, Prof. UR Rao. Prof. Rao played a pivotal role in shaping ISRO during its formative years.

CAMPCO Chairman A Kishore Kumar Koddi has addressed a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wherein he expressed the pride of the company in highlighting the significant contribution of Prof. Rao, a native of Udupi district, to ISRO's achievements. The chairman underscored that CAMPCO's request for an ISRO laboratory unit in Udupi is intended as a tribute to all the scientists from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts who played vital roles in the success of Chandrayaan-3.

In his letter, Kishore Kumar Koddi wrote, "To honor their achievements and to inspire more students and engineers from the region, CAMPCO requests the Central Government to consider establishing an ISRO laboratory unit in Udupi district. Such an initiative would not only boost regional scientific enthusiasm but also contribute significantly to the nation's further development."

Highlighting the presence of esteemed educational institutions in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, Kumar expressed his belief that a local-level ISRO laboratory unit would foster a culture of scientific inquiry and modern ideas in the region. He further appealed to the Prime Minister to consider allocating a portion of the proposed Rs 15,000 crore fund intended for ISRO's development to the establishment of the requested laboratory unit in Udupi district.

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New Delhi, Nov 26: RPI(A) leader Ramdas Athawale, a key BJP ally, on Tuesday called for a quick decision on the next chief minister of Maharashtra and suggested that incumbent Eknath Shinde should shift to the Centre as a Union minister.

Addressing a press conference here, Athawale also backed senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis as the next chief minister of Maharashtra, contending that the saffron party won the maximum number of seats in the 288-member Assembly and should have the right to the top executive post in the state.

He said a peculiar situation has arisen in Maharashtra where BJP leaders want Fadnavis as the chief minister, while Shiv Sena leaders want Shinde to continue in the post, citing the good work he has done over the last two and a half years.

Athawale, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, said NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has declared that he was not in the race for the chief minister.

"We need to resolve this matter, without any further delay. The election results were announced on November 23 and we should have had the oath of the new chief minister on November 26, the Constitution Day," Athawale said.

Backing Fadnavis for the post of chief minister, Athawale said Shinde can become the deputy chief minister or shift to the Centre and join the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Athawale said his RPI(A) has a presence in every part of the state, but unfortunately lost the two seats -- Dharavi and Kalina -- offered to it in the recent Maharashtra Assembly elections.

He demanded that an RPI member be made an MLC and a minister in the state government.

The BJP-led Mahayuti won a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections winning 235 seats in the 288-member House. The BJP won 132 seats, followed by Shinde-led Shiv Sena (57) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP (41). Smaller parties, who are part of the alliance, won five seats.