| While the BJP and Congress are being cautious, their regional partners, the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party have taken a tough stand. |
| The issue got impetus last year after the Maharashtra government filed a petition in the Supreme Court demanding merger of Belgaum and Karwar in Maharashtra. |
| The Karnataka government, on its part, announced the status of a second capital for Belgaum and decided to hold a special assembly session there between September 25-27. In reply, the Maharashtra Ekikaran Kruti Samiti (Maharashtra Unification Action Committee-MUAC) announced a rally of Marathi-speaking residents of the border areas of Belgaum. |
| Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray, in an article in party mouthpiece Samna, has demanded that the BJP withdraw support to the Karnataka government. |
| The NCP, on its part, has send Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil to the MUAC rally and demanded that Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh join to show Maharashtra government's commitment to the cause of the Marathi-speaking population of Belgaum and adjoining areas. |
| The Congress and BJP are trying to duck the issue. A spokesman of the Maharashtra State Congress Committee said, "The Maharashtra Congress is firmly behind the Marathi-speaking population of Karnataka. No one can forget that it was Deshmukh's government which filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court. We are confidant that we can find a solution to the issue through court or negotiations." |
| The BJP's state unit is more forthcoming. State BJP General Secretary Vinod Tavde said, "We condemn the move of the HD Kumaraswamy government to hold a special session of the Assembly in Belgaum when the issue is pending before the judiciary. We have expressed our feelings to the party's central and Karnataka units." |
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