Fishermen’s Community Protests Exclusion of Mankal Vaidya from Karnataka Cabinet

The exclusion of Bhatkal MLA and former minister Mankal Vaidya from the newly expanded Karnataka cabinet has sparked strong resentment among the fishing community in Uttara Kannada and other coastal districts.

Addressing a press conference in Bhatkal, members of the Bhatkal Fishermen’s Association and community representatives expressed disappointment over the Congress government’s decision and urged the party leadership to reconsider.

The speakers said Mankal Vaidya had made significant contributions during his tenure as Minister for Fisheries and Ports. They noted that compensation for the families of fishermen who died in accidents was increased from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 10 lakh under his leadership. They also credited him with introducing several initiatives for the welfare of fishermen and the development of coastal regions.

The community leaders further claimed that Mankal Vaidya’s name had figured in the initial list approved by the All India Congress Committee but was removed shortly before the swearing in ceremony. They described the decision as a setback not only for the MLA but also for the entire fishing community.

They pointed out that the economies of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi districts depend heavily on the fisheries sector. According to them, marine and inland fisheries face different challenges, making it essential for the department to be led by someone with practical knowledge and experience of the sector.

The speakers also objected to the appointment of a minister from another district as the in charge minister for Uttara Kannada. They appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar to review the decision and induct Mankal Vaidya into the state cabinet to ensure proper representation for Uttara Kannada and the coastal fishing community.