Shivakumar to Chair First-Ever Karnataka Cabinet Meeting in Mangaluru

MANGALURU, SEPT 17 : Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will chair the State Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru on Friday, marking the first-ever meeting of the Cabinet to be held in the coastal city.

The district administration and police have stepped up security and civic preparations ahead of the high-profile meeting at the Deputy Commissioner's Office. Shivakumar and other ministers are expected to arrive in the city on Thursday and stay overnight.

Key routes, including the airport road, roads leading to the Deputy Commissioner's Office and the Circuit House area, have been illuminated with new electric lights as part of the arrangements.

A special dinner for the Chief Minister and ministers is also being organised at Tannirbhavi Beach under the leadership of Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister U T Khader. The dinner is expected to feature a variety of traditional coastal delicacies.

The Cabinet meeting has raised expectations across the coastal region, with several long-pending issues likely to come up for discussion. Among the key demands is the proposal to accord Tulu the status of the State's second official language.

Representatives of the Tulu-speaking community have expressed hope that the issue will receive consideration during the meeting.

The meeting is also expected to focus on development priorities in the coastal belt, including infrastructure, employment, tourism and other region-specific concerns involving Dakshina Kannada and neighbouring coastal districts.

The decision to hold the Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru is being seen as an effort to take the State's highest decision-making forum beyond Bengaluru and give greater attention to the developmental concerns of the coastal region.

Attention is now focused on the decisions and announcements that may emerge from the Cabinet's deliberations on Friday.