Is Mangaluru Cabinet meet a political advantage to Congress? - The HinduUpdated - September 21, 2026 07:41 pm IST - MANGALURUWhile the Congress is confident that the State Cabinet’s decisions taken in Mangaluru will help improve its political prospects in coastal Karnataka, the BJP feels that its traditional voters will not be influenced by such moves.Of the 19 Assembly seats in the three coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada, the BJP won 13 seats, leaving six to the Congress in the last Assembly election held in 2023. In the 2018 election, the BJP had won 16 seats, leaving three to the Congress. Later, it snatched one more seat (Yellapur in Uttara Kannada) from the Congress in the 2019 by-election, increasing its tally to 17.In the last Assembly election, of six seats in Uttara Kannada, the BJP bagged only two (Yellapur and Kumta), leaving four (Haliyal, Sirsi, Karwar, and Bhatkal) to the Congress. In Dakshina Kannada, the BJP bagged six (Mangaluru City South, Mangaluru City North, Moodbidri, Bantwal, Sullia, and Belthangady) of the eight seats, leaving the other two (Puttur and Mangaluru) to the Congress. However, in Udupi, the BJP swept all five seats for the second consecutive time, holding its sway over the district.M.G. Hegde, spokesperson, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), told The Hindu that there is clarity in the decisions taken by the Cabinet. It could be pertaining to according additional administrative language status to Tulu in undivided Dakshina Kannada, a move to rename Dakshina Kannada as Mangaluru, upgrading the College of Fisheries to a fisheries university, or developing 12 islands for tourism. The concrete decisions, including according approval for a government medical college project in Puttur, on the development projects have been announced.Mr. Hegde said that budgetary grants for the projects announced can be made in phases on an annual basis.“The decision on Tulu will hit the ‘communal politics’ of the BJP as Tuluvas feel honoured,” he said.The spokesperson said that the Congress has now set a perfect “development agenda” for the BJP to debate upon before the next elections to the local bodies and Assembly. “It cannot continue with its old communal-based agenda,” he said.Mr. Hegde said that the Ram Mandir embezzlement case and NEET-UG paper leak issues have dented the image of the BJP, especially in the coastal region.“The Cabinet decisions on coastal Karnataka will force the BJP to focus on development projects by coming out of its communal agenda,” the spokesperson said, adding that the Congress is set to gain in the coming elections.Satish Kumpala, president, Dakshina Kannada unit of the BJP, told The Hindu that traditional voters of the BJP will not be carried away by decisions announced in Mangaluru.Earlier, the Congress government held Cabinet meetings in other districts too, including Kalaburagi. Many projects announced in those meetings did not become a reality. The decisions taken then did not influence voters, he said.“The Congress government is facing a dearth of funds to implement its projects. It is yet to implement many old projects. From where will it get funds to take up projects announced in Mangaluru?” he asked.Mr. Kumpala said the Congress made 10 assurances as part of its 10-point charter announced for coastal Karnataka during its Prajadhwani Yatra in Mangaluru ahead of the last Assembly election. “Did it help the grand old party to defeat the BJP?” he asked.Published - September 21, 2026 07:39 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }