Belagavi delegation urges CM Siddaramaiah to create Gokak and Chikodi districts, Satish jarkiholi says decision likely soon

Belagavi: A fresh push for the long-pending demand to bifurcate Belagavi district gained momentum on the opening day of the Belagavi winter session, as a delegation led by Arabhavi BJP MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and urged the government to create two new districts — Gokak and Chikodi.

The delegation submitted a formal request to the Chief Minister seeking the reorganisation of Belagavi, currently the largest political district outside Bengaluru with 18 assembly constituencies. The proposal suggests retaining Belagavi as a smaller district while carving out two new administrative units for better governance and regional development.

Responding to the demand, Public Works Minister and senior Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi, who is also the brother of MLA Balachandra Jarkiholi, said that the matter has been under active discussion ever since the Congress government came to power.

“All MLAs are in favour of restructuring. The Chief Minister may call a meeting of all elected representatives soon. It looks like he wants to discuss the issue with us directly,” he stated.

Satish Jarkiholi further confirmed that the Chief Minister has assured the delegation that a meeting of all Belagavi district MLAs, MPs and MLCs will be convened to take a final decision. He added, “We have been pressuring the government and the CM to settle the district bifurcation issue once and for all. The demand is clear — Gokak and Chikodi must become separate districts.”

Referring to earlier recommendations, Jarkiholi said, “Nearly 20 years ago, different committees had suggested that Gokak and Chikodi have strong administrative and economic potential to be developed into full-fledged districts. Creating Athani or Bailhongal districts is not practical. Based on economic viability, resource availability and infrastructure, Gokak and Chikodi are the right choices.”

He added that the Chief Minister has responded positively to the proposal. “The CM has said he will call a meeting within two days. Let us see what views emerge in that discussion,” he remarked.

With political consensus seemingly building across party lines and renewed pressure from leaders within the district, the long-pending Belagavi bifurcation debate appears to be approaching a decisive stage. Whether the winter session will witness a concrete announcement remains to be seen.

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