Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada district unit of the BJP staged a protest near the Mini Vidhana Soudha in Mangaluru on Friday, criticising the Congress-led state government over the announcements made during the Cabinet meeting held in the district.
BJP MLAs Vedavyas Kamath and Bharat Shetty participated in the protest, where party workers held empty vessels and raised slogans against the state government.
The protest came a week after the Karnataka Cabinet held its first meeting in Mangaluru on September 18. The meeting resulted in several announcements concerning the coastal region, including decisions on Tulu, tourism, fisheries, urban development and infrastructure. The government said approvals totalling around Rs 32,611 crore were made, including allocations and approvals covering Mangaluru, Udupi and the wider coastal region.
BJP protests over Cabinet announcements
The BJP leaders alleged that the government had made a series of announcements despite the state’s financial constraints and argued that the Cabinet meeting had not delivered sufficiently for Dakshina Kannada.
Party workers carried empty vessels as part of the protest. A photograph of Chief Minister D K Shivakumar with a flower behind his ear and a vessel in his hand was also displayed as a symbolic protest.
BJP leaders said the symbolism was intended to convey their allegation that the government had effectively “given a vessel” not only to Dakshina Kannada but to the entire state.
The protest follows the BJP’s earlier participation in discussions surrounding the Mangaluru Cabinet meeting. Ahead of the September 18 meeting, the Dakshina Kannada BJP had submitted a 44-point memorandum to the Chief Minister, covering issues including Tulu language recognition, tourism, coastal erosion, fisheries, infrastructure and industrial development.
Vedavyas Kamath questions Cabinet outcome
Addressing the protesters, MLA Vedavyas Kamath criticised the outcome of the Cabinet meeting held in Dakshina Kannada.
Kamath alleged that the government had effectively conducted the meeting, eaten and left without providing anything substantial to the district.
His remarks were directed at the announcements made following the Cabinet meeting and the BJP’s assessment that the decisions did not adequately address the issues raised by Dakshina Kannada representatives.
The BJP had earlier sought attention to several long-pending infrastructure and development requirements in the district ahead of the Cabinet meeting. Among the issues raised by the party were connectivity, industrial development, tourism, coastal erosion and fisheries-related infrastructure.
Bharat Shetty targets Congress government
MLA Bharat Shetty also criticised the state government during the protest, referring to it as a “real estate government”.
Shetty alleged that people close to the government were involved in land purchases. These remarks were made as part of the BJP’s criticism of the government’s functioning.
Shetty also questioned the expenditure reportedly incurred on food and arrangements connected with the Cabinet meeting.
Referring to reports concerning expenditure of Rs 15 crore, he sarcastically questioned whether such an amount had to be spent for eating anjal (seer fish).
“If you want anjal fish, tell us. We will send it to you,” he said.
The remarks were part of the BJP’s broader criticism of the arrangements and expenditure associated with the Cabinet meeting.
Government had announced major coastal decisions
The September 18 Cabinet meeting was the first meeting of the Karnataka Cabinet held in Mangaluru. The government had said the meeting was intended to address long-standing demands from coastal Karnataka and decentralise the functioning of the state administration.
Among the major decisions announced was recognition of Tulu as Karnataka’s second additional administrative language in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. The government also announced a new tourism policy covering the coastal and Malnad regions and approved the Karnataka Marine Biotechnology Policy 2026-31.
The government further announced that it would begin the process of considering the renaming of Dakshina Kannada district as Mangaluru district by issuing a draft notification and inviting public opinion for a month.
The Cabinet also announced development measures involving fisheries, medical education, urban infrastructure and tourism in the coastal region.
The BJP’s latest protest focused on its contention that these announcements did not adequately address the concerns of Dakshina Kannada despite the Cabinet meeting being held in Mangaluru.
BJP continues to raise district concerns
The protest reflects the opposition party’s continuing criticism of the state government’s handling of the coastal region’s development priorities.
Ahead of the Cabinet meeting, the BJP had presented 44 demands to the Chief Minister, including measures relating to coastal erosion, dredging of waterways, temple tourism, industrial land, connectivity and employment.
The Congress government, meanwhile, has described the Mangaluru Cabinet meeting as an effort to address regional demands and announced projects and policy measures following the meeting.
The latest BJP protest therefore places the opposition’s assessment of the Cabinet decisions against the government’s stated list of approvals and initiatives for the coastal region.