The discussion around splitting Karnataka’s largest district, Belagavi, has resurfaced following remarks by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Speaking at a public event in Gauribidanur on Wednesday, he acknowledged that most demands for new districts are emerging from the Belagavi region. He assured that the issue would be considered after consultations with local MLAs and the district-in-charge minister.
His statement has once again pushed the trifurcation demand into the spotlight, especially after Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi publicly backed the proposal. Jarkiholi claimed that creating three districts would enhance administrative efficiency and improve governance.
The demand had gained traction during the legislature session in Belagavi in December 2024, when there was widespread anticipation about the announcement of Chikkodi and Gokak as new districts. Despite strong backing from community leaders, seers, and local groups through formal representations, the absence of an official statement from the government left many disillusioned.
Belagavi, which has a population of nearly 55 lakh, is Karnataka’s most populous district. It consists of 14 taluks, 18 assembly seats, 506 gram panchayats — the highest in the state — and overlaps three Lok Sabha constituencies: Belagavi, Chikkodi, and part of Uttara Kannada.
Advocates for division argue that smaller districts will make government services more accessible and boost development. People from taluks such as Athani, Yadawad, Raibag, Chikkodi, Mudalagi, and Ramdurg often have to travel 100–200 km to reach the district headquarters, complicating access to essential services.
This is not the first time the idea has been proposed. Committees led by Vasudev Rao, Hundekar, and P.C. Gaddigoudar had in 1997 recommended carving out Chikkodi as a separate district. However, opposition from pro-Kannada outfits stalled the process. These groups argue that the division might bolster the influence of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in the border region and insist that no decision should be made until the Supreme Court rules on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border row.
With political support once again building and local voices growing louder, the debate over dividing Belagavi is back in focus, though the outcome still hangs in the balance.
