The recent declaration by Satish Jarkiholi, a prominent Congress figure and the Public Works Minister, regarding the potential division of Belagavi due to its perceived unwieldy size and administrative challenges, has elicited a spectrum of responses. Various leaders and organizations have weighed in, showcasing a range of stances on this proposal.
Within the BJP camp, key figures such as MP Anna Saheb Jolle and MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi have lent their support to this notion. MP Jolle expressed his enthusiasm for the creation of a fresh Chikkodi district, while Balachandra Jarkiholi has deferred the decision on which taluks should be encompassed within this potential division to the discretion of the State government.
Opposition to the proposal has been equally fervent, stemming from distinct reasons. Divergent voices have emerged, reflecting the multifaceted dynamics at play. Kannada organizations, for their part, have vehemently urged the government to abandon the notion. Their concern lies in the potential diminution of the robust Belagavi district into three smaller and potentially weaker entities. This, they argue, could inadvertently bolster the longstanding demands of Marathi groups calling for Belagavi’s merger with Maharashtra.
Ashok Chandaragi, Convenor of Kannada organizations, recollected previous instances when analogous propositions were put forth, only to be retracted by the State government. He emphasized the need for the government to exercise patience, waiting for a verdict from the Supreme Court on Maharashtra’s border plea before making any decisions.
Chandaragi further elucidated that should the government proceed with the creation of a more compact Belagavi district encompassing neighboring taluks like Khanapur and Kittur, they would align themselves with the aspirations of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti, which seeks the inclusion of Marathi-speaking regions within Maharashtra.
In an interesting twist, another faction has articulated a demand for the district to be partitioned into four or five smaller units, thereby designating larger taluks as district headquarters.
Minister Satish Jarkiholi, in his Independence Day declaration, advocated for the division of the district into three novel ones, delineating Gokak and Chikkodi as separate districts. This would entail segmenting the district, which resembles the letter ‘S,’ into three distinct units in the north-east, east, and south-west directions. Justifying his stance, the district in-charge Minister cited the administrative feasibility of managing a district with 14 taluks, 506 gram panchayats, and over 1,500 settlements through smaller subdivisions.
However, the specifics of implementation and taluk inclusion in each district will be determined subsequently by the government.
Additional demands have emerged, underscoring the potential elevation of Bailhongal, historically a sub-divisional headquarter, to the status of a district. This proposition envisions the inclusion of Athani and Ramdurg, the farthest taluks from Belagavi, and even Raibag, lying on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border.
The Bailhongal District Agitation Committee convened to voice their concerns, cautioning against unilateral district division decisions by the State government. Their apprehension is rooted in suspicions that political motivations rather than administrative enhancements are driving the proposed district division.
With three Assistant Commissioners presently stationed in the district (Belagavi, Chikkodi, and Bailhongal), the committee asserts that if Belagavi and Chikkodi can be designated as districts, the same logic should extend to Bailhongal.
Committee President Shivarangan Bolannanavar emphasized their readiness to initiate protests against this division. Prominent figures like Sri Prabhu Neelakanth Swami, Mahantesh Turmuri, and Madiwalappa Hooti were present at the meeting. MLA Mahantesh Koujalagi has expressed support for this demand.
MLA Raju Kage, on the other hand, advocated for Athani’s elevation to a new district, not merely involving Belagavi’s partition, but also encompassing Jamkhandi and Rabakavi Banahatti from Bagalkot district. MLA Laxman Savadi, currently on a U.S. tour, is set to return on September 9, following which he will be urged to lead a delegation from Athani to press for the formation of the new Athani district.
Following taluk delimitation, the State presently comprises 237 taluks distributed across 31 districts, averaging seven taluks per district. Notably, the most extensive districts in terms of taluk count are Belagavi with 14, Vijayapura 13, Uttara Kannada 12, Kalaburagi 11, and Tumakuru with 10. Bengaluru Rural stands as the State’s smallest district in terms of taluk count, featuring four.
