 "Too many aspirants from North Karnataka")
For the BJP it will be a problem of plenty as there will be too many aspirants for berths in Narendra Modi’s cabinet from North Karnataka.
The people of North Karnataka, which includes four districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka, are hoping that Modi would accommodate at least two MPs from the region in his cabinet and help develop the region that has several taluks with backward tag in the Nanjundappa Committee’s report on correcting regional imbalance.
State BJP president Prahlad Joshi (Dharwad), Suresh Angadi (Belgaum), Ramesh Jigajinagi (Bijapur) and P C Gaddigoudar (Bagalkot) who have achieved a hat-trick from Dharwad. Besides, Anant- kumar Hegde a five-time winner from Uttara Kannada are strong aspirants from North Karnataka for the ministerial berth. Barring Ramesh Jigajinagi who belongs to the SC, others are from upper castes.
North Karnataka districts have several issues relating to development that need the Centre’s help.
Accommodating the above mentioned MPs in the cabinet is expected to boost development.
The inclusion of Hubli-Dharwad in JNNURM, resolving dispute with Goa and Maharashtra over Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, are among their demands establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology in North Karnataka, implementation of the Hubli-Ankola railway line project, introduction of new trains in the region, expansion and upgrade of the Hubli Airport, development of highways and establishment of major industries in the region are some of the important issues hanging fire for decades.
The BJP MPs had been raising these issues in the Parliament every now and then. But, nothing much was coming out of it. Now that they have their own party in power, they should be able to impress upon the Union government of the need to fulfill the demands.
“The inclusion of a couple of MPs from the region in the cabinet should go a long way in giving a fillip to the process of correcting regional imbalance. But we have to wait and see,” said a senior BJP leader.
The people of North Karnataka, which includes four districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka, are hoping that Modi would accommodate at least two MPs from the region in his cabinet and help develop the region that has several taluks with backward tag in the Nanjundappa Committee’s report on correcting regional imbalance.
State BJP president Prahlad Joshi (Dharwad), Suresh Angadi (Belgaum), Ramesh Jigajinagi (Bijapur) and P C Gaddigoudar (Bagalkot) who have achieved a hat-trick from Dharwad. Besides, Anant- kumar Hegde a five-time winner from Uttara Kannada are strong aspirants from North Karnataka for the ministerial berth. Barring Ramesh Jigajinagi who belongs to the SC, others are from upper castes.
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While these MPs are vying for the ministerial berth without knowing how many from Karnataka would be accommodated in the cabinet, they have to contend with other BJP MPs from South and coastal Karnataka also.
North Karnataka districts have several issues relating to development that need the Centre’s help.
Accommodating the above mentioned MPs in the cabinet is expected to boost development.
The inclusion of Hubli-Dharwad in JNNURM, resolving dispute with Goa and Maharashtra over Kalasa-Banduri Nala project, are among their demands establishment of an Indian Institute of Technology in North Karnataka, implementation of the Hubli-Ankola railway line project, introduction of new trains in the region, expansion and upgrade of the Hubli Airport, development of highways and establishment of major industries in the region are some of the important issues hanging fire for decades.
The BJP MPs had been raising these issues in the Parliament every now and then. But, nothing much was coming out of it. Now that they have their own party in power, they should be able to impress upon the Union government of the need to fulfill the demands.
“The inclusion of a couple of MPs from the region in the cabinet should go a long way in giving a fillip to the process of correcting regional imbalance. But we have to wait and see,” said a senior BJP leader.