Dhananjay Kumar gives shock to Yeddy, joins Congress

coastaldigest.com news network
July 22, 2017

Mangaluru, Jul 22: Venur Dhananjay Kumar, the former union minister and BJP’s first MP from South India, is all set to formally join Congress party amidst preparation for 2018 Assembly polls in Karnataka.

dhananjay
Confirming the reports of his decision to change the party, Dhananjay told coastaldigest.com that Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi assured the former to give a suitable position in the party.

“I met AICC President Rahul Gandhi on Friday and he assured a smooth entry into the Congress. He said that the entire Congress leadership is supporting this move. In a couple of days, KPCC President Dr G Parameshwar will announce my entry to the party. I don’t expect any great post once I join the Congress but if the party wants me to contest the upcoming polls, then I will oblige,” he said.

“Dhananjay felt sidelined by the BJP. He had been extremely loyal to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa but was not given the positions a politician of his experience deserves. Hence, he decided to join the Congress,” a source with knowledge about the BJP veteran’s exit said.

Dhananjay began his political career in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) youth wing. He went on to become an MLA in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly in 1983. In 1991, he was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha defeating the Congress veteran B Janardhana Poojary in Dakshina Kannada.

As the BJP grew stronger in the state, he was offered the Mangaluru constituency and won four successive Lok Sabha elections. He served as a Union Minister thrice when the BJP was elected to power.

He was appointed the Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism in 1996, the Union Minister of State for Finance between 1999–2000 and the Union Minister of State for Textiles between 2000–2003.

A staunch loyalist of Yeddyurappa, Dhananjay, in October 2012, had hurled the choicest of abuses against BJP leaders including the central leadership, for ousting Yeddyurappa from the post of Chief Minister.

Angered by the high command’s decision to oust him as CM, Yeddyurappa then went on to form the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP).

The party’s central leadership was angered by Dhananjay’s insults and had expelled him from the BJP on that grounds that Kumar was indulging in “anti-party activities”. Loyal as ever, Dhananjay went and joined the KJP and was even made its President.

However, when the KJP was dissolved, there was strong opposition for his re-entry into the BJP as he had severely slammed the BJP’s central leadership.

In March 2014, Dhananjay Kumar joined the JD(S). However, in 2015, after holding talks with his close friend Yeddyurappa, he was back in the BJP’s fold.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
February 20,2025

boy.jpg

Puttur, Feb 20: In a heartbreaking incident a 13-year-old boy died by suicide at Tannirupanta village in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada. 

The deceased has been identified as Shravan, a Class 7 student at a private school in Uppinangady. He was the son of Dombayya Gowda. 

According to reports, Shravan had dinner with his mother on Tuesday night (February 18), which included a chicken dish prepared by his aunt. 

After his mother fell asleep, he is believed to have taken his own life by hanging himself from a ceiling fan. Disturbingly, he had saved some of the chicken dish for the next day’s meal and had gathered flower buds for morning prayers, making the incident even more puzzling.

Described as a cheerful and well-liked student, Shravan showed no apparent signs of distress, leaving family, friends, and teachers shocked by his tragic decision. He is survived by his parents and a sister.

As a mark of respect, his school organized a silent prayer to honor his memory.

Mental health matters. If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help. Call the toll-free helpline at 9152987821. Remember, no problem is too big to be solved.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
coastaldigest.com news network
February 24,2025

Mangaluru: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has urged the Karnataka government to allocate Rs 3,000 crore in the 2025 state budget for the development of the tourism sector in Dakshina Kannada. This demand was made as part of the party’s ‘Janata Budget – 2025’ initiative.

Anwar Sadath S, president of SDPI’s Mangaluru Rural district unit, emphasized the district’s vast tourism potential, given its location between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. He suggested projects such as beach development, walking tracks, play zones, amusement parks, and other recreational activities to boost tourism in the region.

In addition to tourism development, SDPI has called for several key initiatives in the state budget:

•    Establishment of a government medical college and a super-specialty hospital in Dakshina Kannada.

•    Setting up a High Court bench and a government law college in the district.

•    Development of an IT Park to boost employment opportunities.

•    Minimum support price for arecanut and a dedicated research centre for arecanut diseases.

•    Expansion of healthcare facilities, including a branch of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research in Mangaluru.

•    Construction of residential accommodation for Muslim religious leaders serving in mosques and madrasas.

•    A special financial package for paddy farmers, offering Rs 2 lakh per acre as financial assistance.

Sadath criticized previous administrations for neglecting Dakshina Kannada, despite the district being one of the top tax contributors in Karnataka. He highlighted the dominance of private entities in education, healthcare, and business, stressing the need for greater government support in public amenities and welfare schemes.

SDPI urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ensure adequate budgetary allocations for new projects, job creation, education, healthcare, and social welfare programs. The party insisted that the upcoming budget, to be presented on March 7, should prioritize balanced regional development across all districts.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
February 24,2025

Karnataka's Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Madhu Bangarappa, announced that skill-oriented classes will be introduced for students of grades 8 to 12 alongside the regular curriculum from the next academic year.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Skill and Employment Fair organized by the District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, and Skill Development Department at the National College of Education, in Shivamogga, he emphasized the importance of skill-based education in shaping students' futures.

"Introducing skill training at an early stage will help students acquire expertise in their chosen fields, secure desired jobs, and lead self-reliant lives," the minister stated.

To improve job opportunities for youth, Bangarappa proposed a transport facility for job seekers. Instead of organizing job fairs at the taluk level—where employer participation is limited—he suggested conducting them at district headquarters with free bus services for registered candidates from rural and urban areas. This initiative will be discussed with concerned officials and implemented next year, he added.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.