Karnataka recognizes Tulu as second official language, cabinet meets in Mangaluru instead of Bengaluru

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced on Friday that Tulu, spoken in the state's Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, will be recognised as an additional administrative language in those regions. Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting in Mangaluru, Shivakumar said the decision grants Tulu official status alongside Kannada, the state's primary language. According to the 2011 census, over 18 lakh native Tulu speakers lived in Karnataka.

The cabinet meeting in Mangaluru marks the first time it has convened outside Bengaluru. The move carries political weight given the Bharatiya Janata Party's dominance in coastal Karnataka, particularly in these two districts. In the 2023 assembly elections, the BJP won 11 of 13 seats across both districts, while Congress secured only two seats.