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Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Old rivals Katti, Patil join hands to counter Jarkiholi influence in Belagavi
1 2 Belagavi: In a dramatic political twist in Belagavi district, former BJP MP Ramesh Katti and senior Congress functionary AB Patil — rivals for over three decades — have set aside differences and joined hands in Hukkeri taluk. The surprise alliance is being seen as a strategic counter to the growing influence of the Jarkiholi family, especially over the key Hiranyakeshi cooperative sugar factory. Their coming together has re-energised Lingayat representatives in the region, with recent meetings at Kaneri Mutt pointing to broader plans to curb the Jarkiholi family's rising clout. Though long-standing adversaries, both Patil and Katti insisted their collaboration is "solely aimed at safeguarding cooperative institutions", especially the Hiranyakeshi factory, once a bastion of the Katti family. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The factory, founded in 1956 by Appanagouda Patil, had been under the Kattis' control since 1995 until Jan 2025, when a faction led by BJP's Annasaheb Jolle and MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi seized control. The defection of seven board directors led to the resignation of Nikhil Katti as chairman, ending the Kattis' 30-year dominance. However, discontent with Jolle's leadership reportedly drove board members to approach Patil and Katti for help. "Hiranyakeshi isn't just a factory; it's a symbol of the cooperative movement," said AB Patil. "Initially, Rs 150 crore is required to kick-start the factory. We will arrange funds from various sources and restore it. Our goal is to crush one lakh tonnes of sugarcane in the coming season." At a joint press meet, Katti said, "I am a loyal BJP worker, while AB Patil is a loyal worker of Congress. When it comes to politics, we will follow our party directions, holding our respective party flags." The rising political clout of the Jarkiholi brothers in Belagavi, a region traditionally dominated by representatives of the Lingayat community, had triggered anxiety among senior Lingayats, prompting a closed-door strategy meeting at the influential Kaneri Mutt near the Maharashtra border. The meeting sparked intense political chatter across the district as it came ahead of the high-stakes Belagavi District Central Cooperative (BDCC) Bank elections in Oct, where Balachandra Jarkiholi is leading efforts to secure all 16 seats unopposed. However, minister Satish Jarkiholi had played down the Kaneri Mutt meeting saying "such meetings against the Jarkiholi family are not new".
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Satish Jarkiholi says he is preparing for a new Gokak district
The issue of the division of Belagavi district has come to the fore again with district in-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi raising it in public fora and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying that the government is open to the idea. Speaking at a ceremony organised by a media organisation in Gokak on Saturday, Mr. Jarkiholi said that they are planning for the creation of a new Gokak district. Gokak needs a government medical college and a government engineering college. It seems it will be easy once it becomes a district, he said. 'Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has sanctioned a district hospital for Gokak. Work on the building will start soon. It will be up and running by the time a medical college can be set up,' he said. He also said that Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar has promised to sanction a government engineering college for Gokak. 'We are considering the option of starting it on a temporary premises before the building is constructed,' he said. Also, he spoke of plans to lay a cable car rope to Gokak falls at a cost of ₹50 crore to promote tourism and construct of a central library in front of the Gokak Court at a cost of ₹4 crore. Earlier also, Mr. Jarkiholi has argued for the trifurcation of the district as Belagavi, Chikkodi and Gokak, as he feels that it will be convenient for administration and will help people. A few days ago, Mr. Siddaramaiah told reporters in Gouribidanur that there have been demands for division from Belagavi. 'We will consider it after consulting legislators,' he said. The demand for a Chikkodi district is three decades old. Leaders like B.R. Sangappagol formed the Chikkodi Zilla Horata Samiti to fight for it. Sanju Badiger and Shivaraj Bolannanavar are leading the fightafter Sangappagol's death a few years ago. Then Chief Minister late J.H. Patel announced the formation of the new Chikkodi district in 1997 but dropped it after Kannada protagonists opposed it. They argued that creating a smaller district of Belagavi will lead to concentration of pro-Marathi activists in a few taluks who will then continue to demand its merger with Maharashtra. Mr. Jarkiholi says this argument does not hold good any longer as the political power of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti has waned. 'At one time, MES had five MLAs from Belagavi. Now there are none. Their hold on the Belagavi City Corporation has also reduced,' he told reporters in Belagavi last week. However, not everyone agrees. Kannada activists are not fully satisfied with the Minister's answer. They say the agitation for merger with Maharashtra is not limited to MES as other cultural organisations can raise it in future, if Marathi votes are consolidated in the new Belagavi district. The sub-divisional headquarters of Bailhongal wants to be a district also. People there want a new Bailhongal district or they don't want the division at all. They will be happy in an undivided Belagavi district, they said. Sri Rajayogindra Swami of Kalmath wants a Kittur district as it has been the seat of the Kittur kingdom headed by Channamma. Belagavi is among the biggest districts in the State with a population of over 57 lakh. It has 14 taluks, 18 Assembly seats, two MLCs and is spread across three Lok Sabha seats, Belgaum, Uttara Kannada and Chikkodi. The rural areas are governed by 506 gram panchayats, the highest in the State. The distinct in-charge Minister feels that each of the three proposed new districts will have six Assembly constituencies. The district is shaped like the English letter S and is spread in four directions across north-west Karnataka. It borders five districts in Karnataka, three in Maharashtra and one in Goa. Life is not easy for residents of villages on its border like Telsang, Kakamari or Kottalagi who have to travel 200 km to reach the district headquarters. Sanju Badiger argues that the district administration neglects far-flung areas now. 'If we have trifurcation, then we will have three Deputy Commissioners, three Superintendents of Police and three Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officers. They will be able to focus better on a smaller district. A big Belagavi district is difficult to administer,' he said.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Demand for Dalit CM is not under discussion for now, says Satish Jarkiholi
Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi has clarified that the demand for a Dalit Chief Minister in Karnataka is currently not under discussion. It has been put on a pause for over a year, he added. Addressing the media in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Mr. Jarkiholi said that the matter may be seriously revisited and discussed during the 2028 State elections. When questioned about the growing calls for a Dalit Chief Minister, Mr. Jarkiholi responded, 'as of now, this issue is not in discussion within our party as we have put a full stop to it. Let us take it up seriously during the 2028 elections.' He emphasised that the topic has not been active for the past year. Responding to BJP leader H. Vishwanath's recent remark suggesting a change in Chief Minister in November, Mr. Jarkiholi dismissed it outright, stating that Mr. Vishwanath is not a member of the Congress and hence, his statement holds no relevance. 'Why should I respond to comments made by someone from another party?' he questioned. Taking a dig at the BJP's repeated criticisms over the implementation of the Congress-led government's guarantee schemes at the cost of development, Mr. Jarkiholi said that development projects and welfare schemes are going on hand-in-hand. 'The BJP has been claiming for two years that there is no development because of the guarantee schemes and they will continue to do so for the next three years. However, in reality, all development works are progressing effectively alongside the guarantee programmes,' he said, urging people to compare department allocations under the previous BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai and the current government led by Siddaramaiah to understand the difference. On the issue of GST compensation, the Minister criticised the Union government for withholding Karnataka's dues. 'We contribute ₹2 lakh crore in GST to the Centre. At the very least half of that should be returned to the State. So far, we have received only ₹36,000 crore,' he said and added that Karnataka's tax money is being diverted to fund infrastructure projects such as the Yamuna and Ganga expressways in States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. 'Our money is being used to build roads in other States,' he added.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Centre sanctions 42 road projects in K'taka; state cleared 27: Satish Jarkiholi
Belagavi: Public works minister Satish Jarkiholi clarified that a total of 42 road projects were sanctioned by the Centre in coordination with the state government. Of these, the state granted full clearances for 27 projects, including land acquisition and transfer to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Clearance is pending for the remaining 15 projects, which, the minister said, will be resolved shortly. He was speaking at a media interaction programme organised by Belagavi media association at Vartha Bhavan on Wednesday. Jarkiholi also alleged that the Centre dropped a previously sanctioned flyover project for Belagavi due to opposition from local BJP leaders. "The project was announced by minister Nitin Gadkari, but was later withdrawn. However, the state govt has decided to take up the project with its own funds. Chief minister Siddaramaiah will lay the foundation stone in Oct," he announced. Amlan Aditya Biswas appointed In a move to enhance efficiency, Jarkiholi said senior IAS officer Amlan Aditya Biswas has been appointed as the principal secretary of the department. "I specifically requested his appointment to bring discipline and a long-term vision to the department," he noted. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Contractor dues being cleared Responding to the concerns about pending contractor bills, the minister criticised the previous BJP govt for issuing work orders worth Rs 12,000 crore without budgetary allocations. "We are clearing these dues in phases. Most bills below Rs 1 crore have already been settled. We are balancing ongoing development with financial discipline," he explained. Jarkiholi also provided an update on major development works in Belagavi. He said the land acquisition for Belagavi-Dharwad new railway line is complete, while 80% of land acquisition for Belagavi Ring Road is done. A new Rs 10 crore sports complex is under construction at Ramtirth Nagar. A multi-speciality govt hospital is ready for inauguration, and 257 new Anganwadis have been sanctioned. He further mentioned that traffic between Belagavi and Goa has improved following the completion of Belagavi-Goa highway via Chorla. However, he acknowledged that the road is only 5.5 metres wide—and cannot be expanded due to its passage through a sensitive forest area. Belagavi (North) MLA Asif Sait was also present.
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘What's the big deal? Sky won't fall': Karnataka Minister on Gruhalakshmi payment delays
Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Monday shrugged off concerns about delays in the payment of benefits under the Gruhalakshmi guarantee scheme, calling the situation 'no big deal.' According to India Today report, he said, 'What's the big deal? What happens if money is given once every two or three months? The sky won't fall.' Jarkiholi explained that delays in government payments of a month or two are normal and assured that the money would be credited in lump sums when accumulated. He added that the government has a system where payments are clubbed together before being disbursed to beneficiaries, the report added. (Also Read: 'No language more tolerant than Kannada': Booker winner Banu Mushtaq says Kannadigas are misunderstood) The minister urged the media not to make a fuss over minor delays. 'Even if it's late, we will complete the payments. There's no doubt about that,' he said. His comments come weeks after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also indicated that monthly payments under the scheme may not always be guaranteed. (Also Read: Karnataka reports 87 new Covid-19 cases, active cases rise to 311) Recently, talking about the promise of delivering on the guarantee schemes, an election promise of the party, Shivakumar said, "When I took oath as the KPCC President, I had said that the Congress party will come to power if the youth and women of the state make up their mind. We came to power, and we decided to repay their debt through five guarantee schemes. Our government has delivered as promised." (Also Read: 'Temple visits and holy dips': RCB fans across India pray hard for team's victory. Watch) The Gruhalakshmi scheme provides ₹2,000 every month to the woman head of eligible households in Karnataka, a flagship welfare initiative by the Congress government. (With agency inputs)
