Bagalakote: Bagalakote District was known as power house when it came to political representation irrespective of the party. However, now doubts have been raised as to whether the strength of the District has weakened. Yes, the recent developments in the Congress party are supporting this.
The Congress has lost its representation in Bagalakote District, mainly in the Legislative Council, with the Congress losing two of its seats. A deliberate disregard for the District is evident from the fact that the party’s top brass has upset calculations. Even if the sitting members missed chance, they would have accommodated someone else in the District.
S. R. Patil of District has been in the Council for the last 24 years. He was the leader of the Opposition. He had successfully supervised the Government’s action to important events in the State. However, during the elections to the Council through local bodies held in December last year, S. R. Patil opponents succeeded in him not getting the ticket. Though this has made the Opposition happy personally, it is a huge loss to the District. However, neither S. R. Patil nor the leaders of the District have come forward to make any statement on the issue. Since six years, Former Minister R. B. Thimmapura was the Council member from Mudhol Constituency. This made him the Minister during coalition government. This boosted the political power of the District. But now his tenure is going to end. The citizens expected that the vacant seat will be ensured for the District. Mainly there were rumours raised in the politics of district that the ticket will be given to Lingayat Leader S. R. Patil. But now it is disappointing for the citizens here that the District have lost two corner political positions.
In fact, Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah got his political rebirth in Bagalakote District. He is the leader of the opposition in the assembly now.
S. R. Patil has also been deprived of the Speaker post in the past, having been denied a ticket to the Council through local bodies, and is currently deprived of constructing the election from the Assembly to the Legislative Council. On all these three occasions, Siddaramaiah was the stumbling block for S. R. Patil. The dissatisfaction towards him has taken root in Patil’s close circle. The outcome remains to be seen in the coming days.
