First time in India: Open top bus takes ministers in procession to Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru

For the first time in India, Karnataka's ministers traveled to a cabinet meeting in Mangaluru in an open-top bus, as part of a unique procession. This event occurred on September 18th, when Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, alongside his colleagues, embarked on a journey to the Praja Soudha in Padil for the Cabinet meeting. Normally, cabinet meetings are held in the state capital, Bengaluru, every Thursday; however, Chief Minister Shivakumar agreed to shift the venue to Mangaluru at the request of Health Minister U.T. Khader.

The proposal from Minister Khader aimed to bring attention to regional issues during the Cabinet meeting. In response, Chief Minister Shivakumar agreed to the date, prompting preparations in Mangaluru for the occasion. A colorful procession featuring local artists showcasing different art forms of coastal Karnataka was organized as part of the road show by the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues.

Preparations for the event included cleaning the route to the venue, decorating Praja Soudha, and implementing traffic restrictions to manage congestion on September 18th. Chief Minister Shivakumar began his day with breakfast with a group of social media influencers, followed by a visit to Kadri Manjunath temple for prayers. Later, he joined his ministerial colleagues on the open-top bus for the journey to Praja Soudha.

During the Cabinet meeting, seventeen (17) subjects were discussed, which was scheduled to start at 10 a.m. However, the meeting actually commenced at 1 p.m. Thousands of people gathered to witness the spectacle and greet the ministers as they made their way to the venue.