Date:05/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/05/stories/2007040510700500.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Belgaum Kannada groups in disarray

Vijaykumar Patil

Civic polls likely to be held next month

MES continues to be a force to reckon with in the BCC

The sudden rise of the KRV has made other groups jealous

BELGAUM: With indications that elections to the 58-member Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) may take place in May, rival groups have begun working out strategies with a view to capturing a majority of seats.

The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES), which has ensured that the BCC has remained under its control since it was first formed, is trying its best to prevent any last-minute rebellions or splits in its camp. On the other side, Kannada organisations continue to be divided, with each group having its own self-proclaimed leaders. The emergence of the Kannada Rakshana Vedike (KRV) and dozens of other groups in all BCC wards has only added to the confusion and seems to pose a threat to Kannada unity.

It is common knowledge here that the border dispute with Maharashtra has been central to all past elections to the BCC. However, while the 65-odd Kannada groups in the city have made the issues of development and improvement of civic amenities their election plank, the MES continues to bring up the border dispute in order to keep a hold on Marathi voters. It continues to be a force to reckon with, while the Kannada groups are yet to make common cause and grow into a formidable force.

Sources from these Kannada organisations admit to a lack of unity among them. Their one common objective, however, is to wrest control of the BCC from the MES. But, it is a constant battle for supremacy among them. The Belgaum District Kannada Organisations Action Committee, headed by president Ashok Chandargi and former Mayor Siddangouda Patil, has been not able to win the confidence of any of the Kannada organisations. The KRV, headed by the young Rajeev Topannavar, has been functioning independently even while expressing solidarity with the action committee and other Kannada organisations.

Interestingly, the sudden rise of the KRV has made the leaders of other organisations jealous. At the same time, the organisation's "aggressive" postures have been questioned on several occasions. Then, there are young and ambitious politicians such as Anil Potdar and Shivangouda Patil, who maintain their own camps even while expressing solidarity with the action committee and the Kannada groups. Sitting Congress MLA for Belgaum Ramesh L. Kudachi is also not in a position to lead all the Kannada organisations as he himself has several rivals waiting in the wings to pull the rug from beneath his feet.