The Kolhapur district unit of Shiv Sena (UBT) has issued a sharp warning to Karnataka, threatening to block vehicles from the state if the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) is not allowed to conduct its annual convention in Belagavi on December 9. The date coincides with the opening day of Karnataka’s legislative session in Belagavi.
Kolhapur Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Vijay Devane announced that the Pune-Bengaluru national highway near the Koganolli check post would be blocked if the MES is denied permission. He also declared that Karnataka politicians would be barred from visiting the Mahalakshmi temple in Kolhapur. “This year, the situation will not be the same as before, when Karnataka leaders were allowed access despite MES being prohibited from holding its event,” Devane stated.
For the past three years, Karnataka has rejected MES’s request to hold the convention, citing concerns over public order. Devane criticized Karnataka’s actions, claiming additional security was being deployed at border points, railway stations, and airports to prevent Maharashtra leaders from participating. He demanded that Maharashtra officials collaborate with their counterparts in Belagavi to ensure the event takes place.
Belagavi deputy commissioner Mohammed Roshan confirmed that MES had sought permission for the convention, but it was turned down due to law and order considerations. Despite this, MES working president Manohar Kinekar vowed the event would proceed as planned, calling their resolve “unwavering.” The MES, known for marking Karnataka Rajyotsava Day as a “black day” in protest, expressed anger over repeated denials of their gathering.
Meanwhile, Kannada groups in Belagavi have strongly opposed the MES convention. The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike submitted a memorandum demanding the event be blocked, warning of large-scale disruptions if it proceeds. “If permission is granted, our activists will storm the venue, and the government will bear responsibility for any consequences,” warned Deepak Gudaganatti, the group’s Belagavi district president.
In recent years, the MES convention has been held in Shinnolli, a village along the Maharashtra-Karnataka border.
