Satish Jarkiholi and Lakshmi Hebbalkar children are reportedly among the potential candidates shortlisted by the District Congress Committee (DCC) to contest in the upcoming elections from Belagavi and Chikkodi parliamentary constituencies. The selection process took place during a recent DCC meeting held at Minister Jarkiholi’s home office in Bengaluru, attended by current and former elected representatives and office bearers. According to Belagavi district Congress president Vinay Navalgatti, the candidates were unanimously shortlisted, generating optimism about their potential electoral success.
Jarkiholi’s daughter, Priyanka, and Lakshmi’s son, Mrunal, are said to be the chosen candidates for both constituencies in the district, with Priyanka applying for Chikkodi and Mrunal seeking the Belagavi seat. Additional candidates include Lakshmanrao Chingale for Chikkodi and Girish Sonwalkar for the Belagavi constituency. Anjali Nimbalkar, a former legislator from the Khanapur constituency, is selected to contest from the Canara constituency in Karwar.
Despite earlier announcements by Jarkiholi and Lakshmi that no family member would contest from Chikkodi or Belagavi seats, the shortlisting process indicates a different outcome. Jarkiholi specified that the Chikkodi seat would be reserved for a candidate from the Kuruba community, while Belagavi would be for the Lingayat community. Chingale, the other candidate for Chikkodi, belongs to the Kuruba community, and Dr. Sonwalkar, a member of the Lingayat community, is selected for Belagavi.
With Jarkiholi entrusted with regaining the Belagavi seat and Lakshmi assigned to reclaim the Chikkodi constituency, the Congress party appears to be strategically aligning candidates based on community representation. In the Canara constituency, Dr. Anjali is chosen due to her Marathi-speaking background, with the party aiming for improved electoral prospects. The constituency in Belagavi covers Khanapur and part of the Kittur assembly constituencies.
