Karnataka: Dharwad eagerly awaits Pralhad Joshi’s elevation to CM’s post

HUBBALLI: As Union minister Pralhad Joshi’s name is making rounds for the chief minister’s post, many are in Hubballi-Dharwad are preparing to celebrate.
If it becomes a reality, Joshi will be the third politician from Hubballi, after SR Bommai and Jagadish Shettar to assume become the CM.
While Bommai and Shettar were Members of the assembly, Joshi is an MP of Dharwad.
According to a BJP source, Joshi was preparing himself to hold the new responsibility for one-tw0 months. Hubballi people, irrespective of political affiliation, say Joshi is capable and he will prove himself as CM.
Umesh Dushi, a BJP leader, said though the Brahmin community, which Joshi belongs to, has a share of about 3-4% voters in the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency, Joshi has been winning here from 2004 with big margins.
“His community has about 85,000 votes in the constituency, but his victory margin was over 2 lakh in the 2019 election,” he said.
He added that the local unit of the party does not still know if Joshi will be made the CM.
Theatre personality Yashavant Sirdeshpande said it would a matter of pride for every resident of Hubballi to have another CM from the city.
“Joshi has a good sense of culture and broad perspective of administration. If not now, he will become a CM at least in the near future,” he opined.
Joshi maintains good rapport with other party leaders in Hubballi-Dharwad and Karnataka as well.
Former Congress MP Prof IG Sanadi said that as Joshi is trained by late HN Anant Kumar, and is now close to the Prime Minister, he may be chosen for the CM’s post.
“We have observed Joshi’s commitment and dedication to his party. Normally national parties lookout for such leaders. If he focuses on the development and communal harmony, he will emerge as a better leader from North Karnataka,” he said.
Joshi non-committal on issue
“I can’t comment about state politics. Yediyurappa has already issued his statement. There was a discussion between Yediyurappa and our national leaders. Only Yediyurappa and our leaders know the output of the discussion. BJP national president JP Nadda, PM Narendra Modi and others will take a call. I am not a right person to comment on this issue,” said the Dharwad MP.