DK leaders push Kannada plank in Kasaragod, Manjeshwar polls

Mangaluru: The presence of political leaders from Dakshina Kannada campaigning in the high-voltage polls in Manjeshwar and Kasaragod assembly constituencies underlines the significance of Kannada in Kerala's border district.Posters and banners in Kannada seeking votes for various parties are visible across Manjeshwar and Kasaragod. The Dakshina Kannada BJP deputed a dedicated team under MLA Harish Poonja in Kasaragod and Y Bharath Shetty in Manjeshwar. Party sources said district president Sathish Kumpala, MPs Capt Brijesh Chowta and Kota Shrinivas Poojary, former BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLAs, MLCs and other leaders have worked to secure the victory of party candidates.Dakshina Kannada district congress committee (DCC) also assigned senior leaders, including MLAs, MLCs and heads of boards and corporations, to campaign in both constituencies. Congress leaders such as DCC president Harish Kumar, MLC Ivan D'Souza, MLA Ashok Kumar Rai, Mangaluru Urban Development Authority chairman Sadashiva Ullal, former minister B Ramanath Rai and former MLA JR Lobo have worked for party candidates, party sources said.Leaders of the Congress, BJP and CPM from Dakshina Kannada have campaigned extensively in Kasaragod and Manjeshwar. Kannada activists in the border district say the controversial Malayalam Language Bill 2025 may also influence the poll outcome.Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah highlighted Kannada during a recent campaign speech in Manjeshwar. "When you come to Manjeshwar, it feels as if you are in Kannada land. Manjeshwar, an area with a significant Kannada-speaking population, has produced many literary giants like Manjeshwar Govinda Pai, which is a matter of pride for Kannadigas," he said while addressing a rally.Kannada activist and writer Radhakrishna Uliyathadka said the region, especially Manjeshwar, has a large number of Kannadiga voters. "The linguistic minority in the Kerala border needs to be given an exemption in the Bill to allow them to learn their mother tongue. Though the Kerala govt has promised that the Bill will not affect Kannadigas, there is no clarity on it. When it comes to elections, all political parties have Kannadiga members, and it is up to the individuals to decide about voting. It is a fact that the Kannadiga votes are crucial for any political party," he said.The district earlier elected leaders of Kannada organisations, such as M Umesh Rao, Kallige Mahabala Bhandary, and UP Kunikullaya, as MLAs. Radhakrishna said none of the Kannada organisations has issued an open call to vote for any political party this time.Manjeshwar has 11 candidates, including incumbent MLA AKM Ashraf of the UDF, K Surendran of the BJP and KR Jayananda of the CPI(M). Kasaragod has five candidates, including Kallatra Mahin of the UDF and Ashwini ML of the BJP.