Caste takes centre stage, while real issues in segment overlooked

BAGALKOT: Bagalkot, located on the banks of River Ghataprabha, a tributary of River Krishna, has a great historical and religious background. It has the potential to be a world class tourist hub. This ancient city is believed to have been ruled by the Chalukyas, the Peshwas and the Vijayanagar empire. Surrounded by legends and folklore, Bagalkot is more than just a small town.
However, the lack of enthusiasm among its residents to take forward its rich legacy has hampered the growth of Bagalkot into a prominent commercial hub.
Post-Independence and reorganisation of the states, private organisations have done their bit in making it an educational hub. When the height of Almatti Dam across River Krishna was increased to 521 metres, major parts of Bagalkot city submerged but the arrangements for complete rehabilitation and shifting of the town remain wanting.
Glaring problems
Caste has been a major factor in electing the people's representatives in the constituency and the political parties harp on cast equations rather than discussing the issues haunting the constituency and performance of the sitting MLA.
"It has always been Lingayats versus Kurubas in the constituency and nobody bothers about real issues. Since Bagalkot comes under Upper Krishna Project's submerged area, the process of shifting the entire town has not moved forward. The new township Navanagar created to rehabilitate the evacuees is yet to get facilities needed to commence commercial activities. In the rural sector, the reconstruction and rehabilitation remains incomplete. The demand for a government medical college in the city is yet to be fulfilled. Unfortunately, no elected representative seems to bother about these issues," said senior citizen Ramanagouda Patil.
Politics at play
Sitting MLA Veeranna Charantimath (BJP), former minister HY Meti (Congress), medical practitioner Dr Devaraj Patil (JD-S) and Mallikarjun Charantimath (Independent) are the main contestants now.
Congress has won the Bagalkot seat seven times since 1951 with BT Murnal getting elected in 1951, 1957, 1962, 1967 and 1972, S Nijalingappa in 1962 by-election, Parappa Kalligudd in 1978 and HY Meti in 2013. Congress lost for the first time in 1983 with Independent Goolappa Mantur emerging victorious. He was re-elected in 1985. Ajaykumar Sarnayak fielded by Janata Dal won twice in1989 and 1994.
BJP's PH Pujar won the seat for the first time in 1999. The saffron party retained the seat in 2004 and 2008 with Veeranna Charantimath winning. Thanks to the presence of Pujar as a rebel, Charantimath lost in 2013 to HY Meti of Congress and but won again in 2018.
Veeranna Charantimath is facing opposition from his own brother Mallikarjun as well as BJP MLC PH Pujar. This time, Pujar is not in the fray.
HY Meti, a former minister, belongs to Kuruba community and is pinning his hopes on traditional Congress votes and support from the Kuruba community. Veeranna Charantimath, who is also the chairman of the Basaveshwar Vidyavardhaka Sangha, relies on BJP supporters and Lingayats.
The outcome of the election depends on the number of votes secured by Dr Devaraj Patil and Mallikarjun Charantimath.