Mangaluru: Social activist and convener Umar UH, who had been recently appointed as the chairperson of the Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy, took charge at the Academy office situated in the Mangaluru Taluk Panchayat building on Thursday.

Academy Registrar Rajesh G handed over the charge of the body to Umar and heartily congratulated him on his appointment as the new chairperson of the Academy.

Speaking on the occasion, Umar said that his dream of many years, to see a ‘Beary Bhavan’, could now be fulfilled as the Academy had a site as well as funds of Rs 6 crore to support the construction of a hall for the Beary Academy. He added that there were plans of providing the Beary Academy a full-fledged museum and a library similar to those of the Konkani and Tulu academies. The decision would be taken after holding discussions with the Academy members, said the chairperson.

Umar laid stress on working in harmony with the literary bodies of other languages and supporting the cultural co-existence in the coastal belt, adding that the Academy hoped to focus on research rather than cultural programs.

Former chairperson of the Academy Rahim Ucchil, Mohammed Hanif, Tulu Academy Chairperson Taranath Gatti and Konkani Academy Chairperson Stany Alvares were present on the occasion.

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New Delhi (PTI): Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday asserted that the Election Commission will leave no stone unturned in holding free, fair and transparent polls in West Bengal where the first phase of voting is scheduled to be held on April 23.

Interacting with officials involved in poll management, the CEC said the elections will be fear-free, violence-free and intimidation-free.

Officials said the poll authority will ensure elections are also inducement-free and "booth jamming free".

No employee of the state government, local bodies or autonomous bodies will be allowed to influence the electoral process, they said.

The ruling TMC in the state has accused the EC of playing in the hands of the BJP, a charge vehemently rejected by the election watchdog.

The EC and the TMC have also been at loggerheads over the special intensive revision of voters' list with the party accusing the poll authority of deliberately disenfranchising voters to benefit the BJP. Both the EC and the BJP have rejected the charge while dubbing it as baseless.

The second phase of voting in West Bengal will be held on April 29 and votes will be counted on May 4.