By : Manohar Yadavatti
Belagavi : hitherto known as Belgaum district bordering Maharashtra on one side and Goa on the other is an interesting, lively and a piquant portion of land well known and notoriously known for many a reason continues to reel under severe threat if at all you wish to ponder about democracy and civilian rights.The district is again back in headlines following the renewal of Ramesh Jharkiholi, former district minister and Gokak Congress MLA’s threat to bid adieu to the Congress party and join the Bharatiya Janata Party. This is not for the first time that the disgruntled Congress legislator is making his public stance clear for he had done so during the fag end of the previous year as well.
In fact, he was camping at a Mumbai private five-star hotel for weeks together along with a handful of Congress MLAs’ who was then seriously pondering over the issue of crossing over to the saffron party under the ‘Operation Lotus’ strategy of the BJP.However, the switching over didn’t take place as feared in some quarters of political circles and the Janata Dal-Secular(JDS) led Congress supported state coalition government managed to survive an imminent threat of very existence for the time being.HD Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister had himself proclaimed after taking over the reins of the state: I really do not know whether this government will complete its full term or not but one thing of which I am very much sure is that it will survive till the general elections to the Lok Sabha are over!
Now that the Parliamentary polls are over and hectic political developments have begun with the utterances of Ramesh Jharkiholi and the like it may not be a big wonder if the count down for the collapse of the JDS-INC government is already in progress.Sometime back there were whispers within the political sphere hinting at the possibilities of the coalition government being toppled after the announcement of Lok Sabha elections and a National Democratic Alliance(NDA) regime assuming office at the Center.But the way swift developments have commenced in the political field it may not be a big surprise if the coalition government is dislodged even much before that pre-planned schedule.
Belagavi’s history is literally wonderful as the land is renowned for warriors like Sangolli Rayanna, Kittur Rani Chennamma, Belavadi Mallamma among many others. All of them fought the British before being martyred. If Rani Chennamma was the queen of Kittur kingdom, Sangolli Rayanna was the chieftain of her army and man behind her military success.Belavadi Mallamma has the unique distinction of forming an all women’s army which feat hardly has any parallel in the pages of history. While the heroic personalities sacrificed their lives fighting against British the same kingdoms also gave birth to traitors who befriended, tipped and ensured the English rulers nab the former.
Perhaps bravery and the qualities of becoming a traitor are inherent and part and parcel of the lifestyle of the people here.The heroism of the local people continued in a very big way during freedom struggle also as the district boasts of a huge number of tall personalities who took part in it. Likewise many Khadi and Village industries, part of the Gandhian movement continue to remain while some of them like the ones at Sureban of Ramadurg Taluk remain on the deathbed.
If Belagavi is popular for the sweet Kunda, so is Gokak for Kardant full of dry fruits and Ladgi Undi(Laddu). Gokak is also known for its picturesque Gokak Falls, more than a century old Hanging Bridge over the Ghataprabha river and wood artifacts.The people here are highly regarded when it comes to generosity and hospitality as they go to any extent to make their guests happy.Well, there’s another extreme in human relations as the same district till recently was notoriously known for the highest number of murders in the state.
Gokak and Bailhongal Taluks vied with one another in topping this list and most of these fatal crimes took place for the greed of land, property, and lust for the fair sex.Thanks to more than two dozen co-operative and private sugar mills, it goes without saying that the soil here is much fertile enriched by many rivers and rivulets.India maybe 72 years old but not Belagavi district, lament many votaries for freedom of expression as they confess: Belagavi hasn’t got any freedom till date as people are scared to express their opinion on anything in open!The district people have been living in constant fear when it comes to expressing their views about the handful of politically dominant families and don’t even open their mouth if you are considered a rank outsider!
Late Vasantrao Patil remained a terror as long as he enjoyed his political innings with Congress, Old Congress, and the Janata Party. He also holds the dubious distinction of ditching all these party leaders apart from toppling the state government a couple of times.Umesh Katti, former minister, BJP leader and Prakash Hukkeri, Chikkodi INC MP hail from rich families and are related having a considerable clout on district politics in their own way.Likewise, are the Jharkiholi brothers. Ramesh is the first son of his father’s first wife while Satish, Balachandra, Bhimashi, and Lakhan are the sons of the second wife.
Ramesh is Gokak Congress MLA while Bhimashi had contested against him during 2008 Assembly elections as a BJP candidate but now with the Congress.Balachandra is the Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Arabhavi and former minister. If Ramesh has been a Congressman since his inception to politics Satish and Balachandra have switched over to Congress and BJP from Janata Pariwar.
Now Ramesh has challenged his younger brother Ramesh Jharkiholi, Forest and district in-charge minister of contesting from Yamakanamaradi, home turf of the latter.Unlike the well to do political families, the Jharkiholis’ have occupied the corridors of power from rags to riches background and the Neo rich have spread their tentacles in all possible spheres of life thus making the lives of many possible adversaries miserable.
Many a political onlooker rubbish the public diatribe among the Jharkiholi brothers: The Jharkiholi brothers are known for enacting political drama like no one else could ever dare of. They enjoy power irrespective of which party takes over the reins in the state…
…The present fiasco is just one more card they are playing just to keep clinging to power as all of them remain united as a family irrespective of their mudslinging outside…
