Maha political parties to make Belgaum an issue in Karnataka polls

The trigger is registration of two cases, involving state home minister, R R Patil, by the Karnataka police

Maharashtra’s ruling and opposition parties plan to aggressively campaign among the Marathi-speaking population in Belgaum during the Karnataka assembly elections.

The trigger is registration by the Karnataka police of two cases involving a criminal offence against Maharashtra home minister R R Patil, for allegedly delivering a “hate speech” at Belgaum. The charge is promoting enmity between two communities and for breaking the model code of conduct enjoined on governments and parties in the run up to a poll.

The ruling Congress and its co-partner, the Nationalist Congress Party (to which Patil belongs) are sending a battery of leaders for campaigning in Belgaum. Both parties are aware that the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue will dominate in Belgaum and the adjoining areas and have worked out a plan to woo Marathi speakers.

From the opposition, the Shiv Sena has reiterated a demand for declaring Belgaum a Union Territory (UT) until the border issue is resolved. It is in the midst of organising a series of election rallies in Belgaum. The Bharatiya Janata Party is the ruling party in Karnataka but its unit in Maharashtra has no alternative but to take on the government in Karnataka. It has supported the Shiv Sena’s demand for UT status.

State chief minister Prithviraj Chavan told Business Standard he would speak to his counterpart in Karnataka for immediate withdrawal of the cases filed  against Patil. He noted earlier resolutions in the Maharashtra legislature, passed unanimously, to protect the interests of Marathi speakers in Belgaum. “I’m ready to lead an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister,” he added.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena group leader Bala Nandgaonkar wanted a censure motion to be passed by the Maharashtra assembly against the Karnataka government.