The outcome has dented the image of Excise Minister Satish Jarkiholi and reaffirmed the Katti syndicate, led by former MP Ramesh Katti of Hukkeri, as a dominant force in Belagavi politics.
In a major political setback, the Katti group scored a sweeping victory over the Jarkiholi faction, winning the high-stakes elections to the Hukkeri Rural Electricity Cooperative Society in Belagavi district late Sunday night.
The verdict was more than just a routine change of guard, it marked a decisive shift in regional power equations, weakening one of Karnataka’s most influential leaders, Satish Jarkiholi, and restoring the Katti family’s clout in Belagavi.
The contest for the 15-member board turned into a direct confrontation between two of the region’s most powerful dynasties.
A record turnout of cooperative members reflected the perception that this was a referendum on local dominance. With control over resources and patronage seen as a launchpad for future political battles, the polls drew unprecedented attention.
When the results were declared, the Katti-backed panel swept all 15 seats, leaving the Jarkiholi camp empty-handed.
“This is the victory of Hukkeri’s farmers and their self-respect. People have rejected politics of intimidation and monopoly. The cooperative is once again in the hands of its rightful owners—the farmers,” declared an elated Umesh Katti.
For Satish Jarkiholi, who had personally invested in the campaign, the loss was a major blow. “We respect the people’s verdict,” his aides said. “We will introspect and bounce back. This is just another election.”
Analysts, however, see deeper consequences. With its influence across rural households, the Hukkeri cooperative is viewed as a microcosm of political power. This emphatic win boosts the Katti faction’s bargaining power within the BJP and positions them to challenge Jarkiholi’s dominance in Belagavi directly.
Political calculations in the region are now being redrawn ahead of the DCC Bank polls and the 2028 Assembly elections.
For now, chants of “Katti sawkar ge jayawagali” ring across Hukkeri, while the silence from the Jarkiholi camp tells its own story.
Former MP Ramesh Katti remarked, “The trust and respect of Hukkeri’s people brought us this victory. The Jarkiholis should not have challenged them here. Power cannot remain concentrated in one family forever—it must serve the larger society.”
