Two sitting MLAs from Dakshina Kannada misses out on BJP ticket
Mangaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its list of 189 candidates for the upcoming Karnataka elections, with a few unexpected changes in the Dakshina Kannada district. The announcement came on Sunday, with a few major surprises in store for the people of Karnataka.
One of the most noteworthy changes is the ticket given to Bhagirathi Murulya from Sullia, leaving the incumbent minister Angara out of the race. This decision has come as a shock to many as Angara was considered a strong candidate in the region.
In another unexpected move, the BJP has given the ticket to Ex-G.P. Member Satish Kumpala from Mangalore (Ullala). This decision has raised eyebrows, as Kumpala was not seen as a frontrunner for the ticket.
Former Zilla Panchayat president Asha Thimmappa Gowda has also been given the ticket from Puttur, leaving sitting MLA Sanjiva Mathandur out of the race.
However, all other sitting MLAs in the Dakshina Kannada district have been given tickets again. Vedavyasa Kamath from Mangalore South, Dr. Bharat Shetty from Mangalore North. Rajesh Naik from Bantwala, Umanath Kotyan from Moodbidri, and Harish Poonja from Belthangady will again be BJP candidates.
The BJP's decision to field new faces in some constituencies has come as a surprise to many, especially in Dakshina Kannada district, which is considered a BJP stronghold.
The Karnataka elections are scheduled to be held on May 1, and the results will be declared on May 13.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Andhra CM promises housing for all poor by 2029
Amaravati (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday said his government will ensure housing for all the poor before 2029 and allocate housing plots for those who do not own land.
Addressing the Assembly, the Chief Minister urged eligible beneficiaries who have not received a house to apply, assuring that both the central and state governments would take the responsibility for providing housing to all.
“We will not only build houses for all the poor before 2029 but also provide housing plots to landless people,” said Naidu, adding that the government intends to build houses for all the poor.
Noting that the state government aims to allot housing plots to all before 2029, Naidu said it will build apartments if housing plots were not available.
Ahead of Ugadi festival in 2026, the CM said the government will organise three lakh house warming ceremonies under welfare housing, vowing to organise 10 lakh such events within 2026.
On agriculture, Naidu said the southern state accounts for 10 percent of agricultural production at the national level.
He outlined a five-pronged approach of water security, demand-driven crops, food processing, marketing and government support to develop agriculture.
In fiscal 2025 – 26, the CM said Rs 13,772 crore has been earmarked for free power to agriculture, and a financial aid of Rs 20,000 per annum is being given to farmers under Annadata Sukhibava welfare scheme.
According to him, only Rs 7,500 was given to farmers during the previous YSRCP regime. He highlighted that the TDP-led NDA government is offering more than double that amount.
The TDP supremo also announced plans to expand AI agronomist and farm mechanisation services on a large-scale.
Noting that Rs 14,230 crore investments have flowed into the food processing sector, Naidu said the government is concentrating on this front.
Observing that 15 lakh acres are under natural farming in 8,168 villages, he said the target is to expand it to 50 lakh acres.
Besides setting up a large cocoa city near Eluru, he said the government will provide power at Rs 1.5 per unit to aquaculture, among other initiatives.
Assuring continued support, Naidu said his government would stand by farmers in all circumstances and also extend assistance to tenant farmers.
Meanwhile, Irrigation Minister N Rama Naidu informed the House that water would be supplied up to Anakapalli by June 2026 through Polavaram left main canal.
He also said that the government has allocated Rs 600 crore in FY27 budget for Sujala Sravanti project in North Andhra.
The House was later adjourned till Wednesday, March 4.
