MES Enters Karnataka Polls Announces Candidates for Belagavi and Karwar LS

The Maharashtra Ekikarana Samithi (MES), an anti-Kannada organisation, advocating for the merger of Karnataka’s Belagavi district with Maharashtra, has announced its candidates for the Belagavi and Karwar Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka.

This move adds a new dimension to the electoral field, transforming the direct BJP-Congress contest into a triangular one, given the significant presence of Maratha voters in these districts.

Mahadeva Patil, a longstanding MES member, will contest in Belagavi, while Niranjan Sardesai will represent the party in Karwar. Both Patil and Sardesai are known for their stance against Kannada and Karnataka, accusing the state government of marginalizing Marathi-speaking communities and advocating for MES as a means to counter these perceived injustices.

Belagavi, already a hotly contested seat, sees former CM Jagadish Shettar of the BJP and Mrinal Hebbalkar of the Congress vying for victory. Meanwhile, in Karwar, the Congress has fielded Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar against BJP’s Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, replacing the outspoken Ananth Kumar Hegde.

While the MES had lost prominence in previous elections, Maratha voters had leaned towards the BJP. However, leaders like Laxmi Hebbalkar and Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar have emerged as key figures for the Congress in the region.

The electoral outcome will reveal whether national parties maintain their stronghold or if the MES can stage a resurgence in the region.