Second-highest in number of seats, home to big political families, Belagavi is make or break district

With Congress giving a close fight, BJP is facing internal rivalry between leaders, could affect its chances

The recent border-row between Karnataka and Maharashtra will be among the key poll issues in many constituencies of Belagavi, along with issues over payment due to farmers from sugarcane factories. (India Rail Info website)

With 18 seats, Belagavi district has the highest number of seats outside Bengaluru Urban and hence a key district when it comes to elections in Karnataka. As in the last three elections, it is expected to be a straight contest between the BJP and Congress, with the JD(S) having been reduced to zero seats here in 2018.

Many of the elected representatives from the district are powerful sugar barons with a background in sugar cooperatives, which has helped them establish a political presence in this largely agrarian district. It is also home to one of the most prominent political families in the state — the Jarkiholi family, which has two MLAs in the BJP, Ramesh and Balchandra; one MLA in the Congress, Satish; and an MLC, Lakhan Jarkiholi. Another prominent family are the Jolles, represented by the incumbent Muzrai (Religious and Charitable Endowments) minister Shashikala Jolle, the MLA from Nippani, and her husband, Chikkodi MP Anna Saheb Jolle, both of the BJP.

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The conflicting interests have meant bitter rivalries, which this time threaten to upset BJP plans in some constituencies of the district. BJP MLC and former minister Laxman Savadi has a strained relationship with BJP MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was a minister in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government before joining the BJP ranks. Jarkiholi was instrumental in defeating Savadi from Athani in the 2018 Assembly polls, as he backed Mahesh Kumathalli, who won on a Congress ticket, before he defected to the BJP and got re-elected on a BJP ticket.

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Their differences, which are on public display despite an apparent truce, continue to affect the party. Ramesh is also in the cross-hairs of some Congress leaders like Laxmi Hebbalkar, who are trying to ensure Ramesh does not return from Gokak seat, a Jarkiholi bastion.

Five of the constituencies in the district are dominated by Marathas, while Lingayats form a majority in most of the 13 remaining constituencies. There is a sizeable population of OBCs and SCs/STs as well, with two seats reserved for these groups in the district.

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In the 2018 polls, the BJP won 10 and Congress 8 seats, which changed after the defections in 2019. Three Congress MLAs — Ramesh Jarkiholi (Gokak), Mahesh Kumathalli (Athani) and Shrimanth Patil (Kagwad) — resigned and joined the BJP.

As in 2018, the BJP and Congress had a close fight in Belagavi district in 2013 too, when the BJP had won 8 and Congress 7 seats, and in 2008, when they won 9 and 7, respectively.

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The recent border-row between Karnataka and Maharashtra will be among the key poll issues in many constituencies of the district, along with issues over payment due to farmers from sugarcane factories.

Total seats 18

2018: BJP 10; Cong 8, JD(S) 0

2013: BJP 8; Cong 7; JD(S) 0; Others 3

2008: BJP 9; Cong 7; JD(S) 2

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