Mangaluru: The Karnataka State Kambala Association has requested the state government to allocate Rs 2 crore for the 25 Kambala events scheduled in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Aikala Bava Deviprasad Shetty, president of the Karnataka State Kambala Association, pointed out that the Kambala Association received recognition as a sports body under the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports. “With this, Kambala has been recognised as a state sport. It is a traditional sport of coastal districts, including neighbouring Kasargod,” The New Indian Express quoted Shetty as saying.

The association has announced plans to hold 25 Kambala events starting from November 15, and two new Kambala events will be held at Harekala and Badagabettu. Shetty requested the state government to allocate Rs 2 crore, with an estimated Rs 8 lakh for each event to support organisation and logistics. The association also hopes to attract sponsors for the events, similar to the IPL model.

In addition to financial support, the association is prioritising the welfare of the buffaloes used in the races. Shetty outlined plans to introduce a new set of rules and bylaws to prevent any violence or harm to the animals. “We are working on a comprehensive rulebook that will enforce strict timelines and conduct for both organisers and participants,” he said.

He further added that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed Naveen Raj Singh, Principal Secretary of the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports, to come up with a bylaw on budget allocation for the Kambala sport.

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Kalaburagi: Two years after being expelled from the Janata Dal (Secular), former minister C.M. Ibrahim has announced that he will launch a new regional political party in Karnataka on January 24, reported Deccan Herald.

Speaking at a meeting organised by the Nava Karnataka Nirmana Andolana in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Ibrahim confirmed the birth of the new party.

The 77-year-old politician stated he would soon be meeting with other like-minded individuals to choose a symbol for the party.

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Ibrahim emphasised that the organisation would be guided by the principles of 12th-century social reformer Basavanna and the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.

A veteran politician, Ibrahim served as Union Civil Aviation Minister during the tenure of H.D. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister and later headed the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal (Secular). He was expelled from the JD(S) in 2023 on charges of anti-party activities.

His exit from the party followed sharp differences over the JD(S) decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As the then state president of the JD(S), Ibrahim had publicly criticised the alliance, claiming it was finalised without his knowledge. He had also reportedly convened meetings of his supporters and expressed support for the INDIA bloc.