Exclusive: Mithun Rai shuts down rumours, says he has not left the country

Bengaluru/Mangaluru

Putting the rumours to rest, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Mithun M Rai exclusively told blrpost.com that he has not fled/left the country and is in Bengaluru.

In coastal Karnataka, rumours were rife that Rai had fled the country fearing an alleged scam. The rumours began after he left Mangaluru and did not visit the party office for nearly a month.

Rai said, “I have been extremely busy with my personal work in Mumbai, and it was in relation to business. I have neither fled to Dubai nor am I in hiding. In fact, I attended the Kambala (traditional buffalo race) held last week at Vamanjoor in Dakshina Kannada district.” Rai spoke to the website’s reporter over the phone.

Rai further said such rumours are common in the district and that even leaders from the BJP and RSS called to check on his well-being. Rai is currently in the State capital and is likely to return to his hometown on or before March 8 for the Mangaladevi temple fair.

It should be noted that Rai, a close confidant of Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar, has been actively working for the party in Dakshina Kannada. His nearly one-month absence from politics would naturally lead to speculation. Interacting with this website, he has put all the rumours to rest.

Who is Mithun Rai

Rai is a prominent young political leader from the Congress and a key figure in the coastal Karnataka region. He currently serves as a General Secretary of the KPCC and is widely recognised as a close associate of D K Shivakumar. Rai rose to prominence through the party’s youth wing, serving as the President of the Dakshina Kannada District Youth Congress for multiple terms. He first gained national attention during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections when he contested as the Congress candidate for the Dakshina Kannada seat, and more recently, he was the party’s nominee for the Moodabidri constituency in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections.

Beyond his formal political roles, Rai is deeply invested in the cultural preservation of the Tulu Nadu region. He is the founder and primary organiser of Pili Nalike, an annual tiger dance competition that provides a major platform for local artists and traditional performers.

Additionally, he is a significant patron of Kambala, the region’s traditional buffalo racing sport. Educationally, he holds a degree in Business Management from SDM College in Mangaluru. Known for his aggressive campaigning style and vocal advocacy for communal harmony and youth employment, Rai continues to be a central figure in the Congress party’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Dakshina Kannada.