Mangaluru, Sept. 18 -- Karnataka has granted Tulu the status of an additional official language in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar announced on Friday.

The decision was taken at the first Cabinet meeting held in the coastal city, at the Praja Soudha building. It fulfils a long-standing demand for formal recognition of Tulu in the region, where it is widely spoken.

"Considering the demand of the people of undivided Dakshina Kannada, we have decided to announce Tulu as an additional official language of the state. It will be treated as an additional official language in undivided Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts," Shivakumar told reporters after the meeting.

Tulu is a Dravidian language with...