BJP wins Kinnigoli, Bajpe, Manki Town Panchayat elections
Mangaluru/Karwar: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) recorded a series of electoral victories across coastal Karnataka and Uttara Kannada districts on Wednesday, securing clear majorities in the Kinnigoli, Bajpe, and Manki Town Panchayat elections.
In Mulki taluk, the BJP won the Kinnigoli Town Panchayat by securing 10 of the 18 wards, while the Congress won the remaining eight. This was the first election to the Kinnigoli Town Panchayat since it was upgraded four years ago. Polling was held on December 21, and the BJP crossed the majority mark in its maiden electoral contest.
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Following the declaration of results, BJP workers celebrated across Kinnigoli. MLA Umanath Kotian, BJP district vice-president Sunil Alva, Mulki Town Panchayat president Satish Anchan, Mandal president Dinesh Putran, and other party leaders took part in the victory celebrations.
In Mangaluru taluk, the BJP secured a clear majority in the first-ever elections to the Bajpe Town Panchayat. Of the 19 wards, the BJP won 11 seats, while the Congress secured four seats, the SDPI won three seats, and one independent candidate was elected. Vote counting was conducted at the Mangaluru Mini Vidhana Soudha.
In Uttara Kannada district, BJP-backed candidates won a decisive majority in the inaugural elections to the Manki Town Panchayat in Honnavar taluk. Of the 20 wards, two Congress-backed candidates had already been elected unopposed. In the remaining 18 wards where polling took place on December 21, BJP-supported candidates won 12 seats, while Congress-backed candidates won six, taking the Congress tally to eight seats in total.
The Manki results have drawn political attention as the town falls within the home region of district in-charge minister Mankal Vaidya. Despite the minister’s influence, BJP-backed candidates secured a comfortable majority. Party workers celebrated the victories by bursting crackers and distributing sweets, with local leaders stating that the outcome would strengthen the party’s position in the region.
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Hormuz Strait disruptions have caused huge economic impact, energy instability in region: Navy chief
Mumbai (PTI): The Strait of Hormuz disruptions have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region, Indian Navy chief Admiral D K Tripathi said on Thursday amid the war in West Asia.
Speaking at an event where INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, the admiral said competition at sea has no longer remained confined to oil and energy.
It is now expanding towards resources that will shape future growth - such as rare earth elements, critical minerals, new fishing grounds and even data, he said.
The West Asia crisis began on February 28 after a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran.
Iran's strikes on its neighbours along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world's energy supplies with effects far beyond West Asia.
"With the conflict in West Asia well into its fifth week, the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region," Tripathi said.
There is significant increase in the marine survey, deep-sea research activity, and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), often encroaching upon the sovereign rights of littoral nations and exploiting gaps in monitoring and enforcement, he said.
Alongside these, threats such as piracy, armed robbery and narco-trafficking backed by unimpeded access of advanced technology to non-state actors, have also become more complex and challenging to counter, the Navy chief pointed out.
Last year alone, the Indian Ocean Region witnessed a staggering 3,700 maritime incidents of varying nature, the admiral said.
Additionally, narcotics seizures in the region exceeded USD 1 billion USD in 2025, highlighting the persistence and spread of such challenges in the region, he said.
