Thackeray had been raising the issue of merger of Belagavi, Karwar and Nippani which has a strong presence of Marathi speaking people, with his state. He had recently demanded that the Marathi speaking regions in Karnataka be declared a Union Territory till the Supreme Court gives its final verdict. 

Deputy CM Govind Karjol said Thackeray should remember that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whom the Shiv Sena perceives as its icon and named its party after him, was "a Kannadiga." 

"Thackeray does not know history. Shivaji's forefather Belliyappa was from Soratur in Gadag district in Karnataka. When there was drought in Gadag, Belliyappa left for Maharashtra. Shivaji was the fourth generation of the family," Karjol said. 

He opined that Thackeray had been raising this issue just to divert attention from the infighting in the coalition government headed by him and fear of losing power 

Echoing similar views, Deputy CM Laxman Savadi alleged that the Maharashtra government had failed miserably on various counts. He also alleged that Thackeray could not carry out any pro-people measures during the COVID-19 pandemic due to which he was losing his popularity. Savadi had on January 27 dwelt on Thackeray's statement and said Mumbai should be part of Karnataka and that the Centre should declare it a Union territory till then. 

Ramesh Jarkiholi, Minister in-charge of Belagavi district, which borders Maharashtra, had spoken along the lines of the Deputy CMs today Minister for Women and Child Development Shashikala Jolle, who hails from Belagavi district, had said Belgavi is the land from where Kittur Rani Chennamma had led an armed rebellion against the British for freedom.