Ready to serve people of Mandya, says Nikhil Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, a popular actor, said Thursday that he was ready to serve the people of Mandya from where he is expected to contest the coming Lok Sabha elections.
Nikhil, the third generation of the mighty Deve Gowda clan, said he would go by the decision of the party on fielding him from Mandya, a Vokkaliga community bastion of JD(S).
"Senior leaders took a decision after discussing with party workers and the MLAs. Most importantly, the party has come forward to give (me) a ticket after understanding the sentiments of the people of Mandya. So, I am ready to serve the people of Mandya," Nikhil told reporters in Sringeri.
The Congress and the JD(S) have decided to go to polls together and are in the last phase of finalising the seat-sharing arrangement.
The list has not yet been made public but insiders said the JD(S) is all set to field Nikhil, who made his acting debut in 2016 with Kannada-Telugu bilingual film 'Jaguar'.
Presently, L R Shivarame Gowda of JD(S) represents Mandya in the Lok Sabha. He won the bypoll last year.
However, the coalition is facing a challenge from film actress Sumalatha Ambareesh.
She has communicated to the Congress leadership, with which her husband was associated from the beginning, that she would contest from Mandya. She has even hinted that if she is denied ticket, she may contest as an independent.
The BJP has kept its Mandya card close to its chest. There have been speculations that the party may back Sumalatha if the Congress-JD(S) alliance denies her a ticket.
Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, BJP state chief B S Yeddyurappa said, "We have not yet discussed (whether to field or support Sumalatha in Mandya). We will take a decision after seeing her decision."
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Metro ridership in Haryana sees over 13 pc rise in 2025-26
Chandigarh (PTI): Haryana's urban transit system witnessed a strong growth in 2025-26, with metro ridership registering a robust 13.55 per cent increase, the state government said in a statement on Thursday.
The progress was reviewed in the 64th board meeting of Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC) chaired by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, the metro network recorded over 1.74 crore passengers, compared to 1.53 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
July recorded the highest monthly growth at 22.93 per cent, while all months showed consistent positive trends.
Financial performance has also remained strong, with fare revenue rising 12.64 per cent till January 2026, the statement said.
Non-fare revenue surged by 108 per cent, driven by effective monetisation of station spaces, advertisements and commercial activities, resulting in an operating surplus for Rapid Metro.
Further initiatives, including the auction of station naming rights and additional advertisement sites, are expected to strengthen HMRTC's financial position, the statement said.
Appreciating the performance, Rastogi stated that the consistent rise in ridership and revenue reflects the success of Haryana's integrated transport strategy, rising commuter confidence and a clear shift towards public transport.
HMRTC Managing Director Chander Shekhar Khare said that, alongside operational gains, the state is making steady progress on an ambitious pipeline of metro and regional transit projects.
Metro connectivity from Gurugram Sector 56 to Panchgaon is under active consideration, with Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited studying the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and layout plan, and finalising a depot location in Sector 36A near Sihi village, he said.
The Gurugram-Faridabad Namo Bharat corridor has achieved a key milestone, with alignment and station locations finalised and approved by the Haryana government. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation is preparing the DPR, he added.
Similarly, the Delhi-Kundli metro extension is proposed to be placed before the Haryana Cabinet for approval.
The 136.3-kilometre Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS Corridor has also progressed, with the revised DPR submitted for financial concurrence ahead of Haryana Cabinet consideration.
Within Gurugram, DPR preparation has been approved for key intra-city corridors, including the 17.09-kilometre Bhondsi-Subhash Chowk-Rajeev Chowk-Sohna Chowk Railway Station corridor, enhancing connectivity along Sohna Road, Khare said.
