Belagavi: The state government, which dropped Mudalgi from the list of new taluks drawn up recently, is now coming under increasing pressure to reconsider its decision.
But it has its task cut out as Small Scale Industries Minister, Ramesh Jarkiholi is against making Mudalgi a taluk because it will mean merger of portions of his Gokak constituency with it.
His younger brother, Balachandra of the BJP, is, however, keen on the idea and has even threatened to resign as MLA if Mudalgi is not made a taluk.
With most towns and villages in Mudalgi seeing protests over the issue over the last three weeks, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured Mr Balachandra recently that a proposal to make it a taluk would be placed before the cabinet shortly .
Mr Balachandra is keen on the idea as Mudalgi is an important town in his Arbhavi constituency. But Mr Ramesh clearly does not want to lose the backing of the people of Gokak, who have rallied behind him during the last four assembly elections which he has won convincingly.
“I will continue to oppose making Mudalgi a taluk if any areas of my constituency are merged with it. I don't have any objection to it being made a new taluk if these areas of Gokak are not merged with it ,'' the Minister asserted.
But reassured by the Chief Minister, Mr Balachandra is meeting Revenue Minister, Kagodu Thimmapa in Bengaluru on Thursday to push his case and has promised the people of Mudalgi that he will return only after it gets the status due to it.
