Proponents of dividing Belagavi district, the largest in the state by area, are eagerly awaiting discussions on the matter during the legislature’s winter session. The long-pending demand to split the district into Belagavi, Chikkodi, and Gokak for better administration remains contentious, with calls emerging to create separate districts for Bailhongal and Athani.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah indicated his government’s support for the proposal. “We have no objection to dividing the district. The idea was first floated during former CM JH Patel’s tenure when Chikkodi was proposed as a separate district. I will consult MLAs from the region before making a decision,” he stated.
Last week, district in-charge minister Satish Jarkiholi and cabinet colleague Laxmi Hebbalkar assured that the issue would be raised in the assembly. With North Karnataka’s concerns set to dominate the second week of the session, supporters of the demand remain hopeful.
Organizations like the Chikkodi Bar Association have lent their support, aligning with the Chikkodi Zilla Sangharsh Samiti’s indefinite strike, now entering its eighth day. Sampadana Swami of Charamurthy Mutt has urged the government to declare Chikkodi a district immediately, warning of agitations, including demands for a separate North Karnataka state, if delayed.
In Gokak, the Gokak Zilla Horata Samiti (GZHS), led by Murugharajendra Swami of Shoonya Sampadan Mutt, has been fighting for district status for over two decades. The Swami claims three committees have recommended Gokak for district status. However, Bailhongal residents, pushing for their own district, oppose Gokak’s claim, advocating for the division of Belagavi into Belagavi, Chikkodi, and Bailhongal.
Meanwhile, Athani has entered the fray, with former deputy CM Laxman Savadi supporting local demands for district status. With multiple competing claims, any decision by the government risks sparking discontent across different regions of the district.
