Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Nov 9: Vartha Bharathi’s Mangaluru Bureau chief, Pushparaj B N, has been elected as the new president of the Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists’ Association for the 2025–28 term. The election was held on Sunday at the District Information and Public Relations Department Hall in Mangaluru.

In a keenly contested election, Pushparaj secured 187 votes, defeating his opponent Shravan Kumar Naala, a reporter from Vijayavani, who polled 144 votes.

With nearly three decades of experience in public life, Pushparaj has been active in literacy movements and educational awareness campaigns since 1990–91. He has served in various roles within the Puttur taluk and Kodagu District Working Journalists’ Associations before taking up leadership responsibilities in the Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Association as an executive member and treasurer.

In other results, Srinivas Naik, former president of the association, was elected as a member of the State executive committee, securing 204 votes, defeating Vijayavani reporter Ansar Inoli, who polled 124 votes.

Rajesh Poojary was elected unopposed as General Secretary, while Vijay Kotian was elected unopposed as Treasurer.

The newly elected vice-presidents are Muhammad Arif, Wilfred D’Souza, and Rajesh Shetty. Secretaries elected include Satish Ira, Siddiq Neeraje, and Suresh Palli.

The executive committee members elected are Ashok Shetty B N, Sandesh Jara, Sandeep Kumar M, Lakshminarayana Rao, Harish Motukana, Divakar Padmunja, Kiran U Sirsikar, Abhishek H S, Jayashree, Bhuvaneshwar G, Sandeep Wagle, Harish K Adoor, Girish Appangai, Sandeep Salyan, and Arif Kalkatta.

The election witnessed enthusiastic participation from journalists across the district, marking yet another milestone in the democratic functioning of the association.