Mangaluru, Apr 13: The CPI(M) and CPI have decided not to contest in any seat in the coastal districts of Karnataka in the coming assembly elections to prevent division in anti-BJP votes.

The leaders of the two parties say that secular votes should be consolidated in the region to keep the BJP out of power.

In Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts where they have considerable influence, the left parties have decided to stay out of the electoral fray to ensure the defeat of BJP candidates.

CPI(M) Dakshina Kannada district secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said the though the party will not field candidates in the coastal districts, they will be active in the campaigning for secular candidates.

The two parties have convened a meeting at the town hall here on April 18 to chalk out their election strategy. It is expected that their decision to support winnable candidates of secular parties will be declared at the meeting.

Coastal Karnataka had been a firm base of the left parties right from 1962 when CPI leader A Krishna Shetty was elected as MLA of the erstwhile Ullal (now Mangaluru) constituency, defeating B M Iddinabba of Congress.

The youth wings of left parties are also actively involved in various social issues in the coastal districts.

DYFI state president Munir Katipalla said the aim of the left parties in the current political scenario is to defeat the BJP and its anti-people policies.

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Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.

The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.

The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.

On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.

Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.

It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.

He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.

According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.