Her husband Anna Saheb Jolle is the BJP Lok Sabha member from Chikkodi in Belagavi district. Ramesh's clout in the district is hard to ignore as he has ensured BJP ticket to his followers who defected from Congress, which has upset the traditional party leaders especially his political rival Laxman Savadi Another prominent family are Jolles represented by the incumbent Muzrai (Religious and Charitable Endowments) minister Shashikala Jolle who is contesting on BJP ticket from Nippani constituency. He was among the 17 MLAs who defected from the Congress and helped BJP to topple the Congress-JDS coalition government in 2019. Ramesh Jarkiholi was a minister in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government before joining the BJP ranks. The Jarkiholi brothers are known to change parties. Another member of the family, Satish Jarkihol is contesting on a Congress ticket from theYemkanmardi seat. From the Jharkiholi family, Ramesh Jarkiholi and Balachandra Jarkiholi are contesting on a BJP ticket from Gokak and Arabhavi Assembly constituencies, respectively. In the district, where many elected representatives are sugar barons, three powerful political families - the Jharkiholis, the Jolles and the Khattis - enjoy electoral dominance.

There is a sizable population of OBCs and SCs/STs as well, with two seats reserved for these groups in the district. Five of the constituencies in the district are dominated by Marathas, while Lingayats form a majority in most of the 13 remaining constituencies. The triangular fight could dent votes of national parties in five Marathi-speaking dominated constituencies.

On the other hand, MES is trying hard to keep the border issue alive in Belagavi, which was part of the erstwhile Bombay Presidency and constitutes nearly 40 per cent Marathi-speaking population. The exit of many disgruntled BJP leaders including three-time MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi from Belagavi, over denial of the ticket for the upcoming Assembly election - is likely to dent some votes here. The leadership vacuum in the Lingayat community after sidelining of stalwart leader B S Yediyurappa, demise of some prominent local Lingayat BJP leaders like Suresh Angadi and Umesh Katti and rising clout of politically influencial Jarkiholi family belonging to scheduled tribes community - are expected to resonate among voters.

There are 18 Assembly constituencies in the border district which is a Lingayat stronghold and has been a BJP bastion in the last two decades.Īs in the last three elections, it is likely to be a straight contest between the BJP and Congress in most of the Assembly seats barring five where the Shiv Sena-NCP supported MES - a vocal proponent of the inclusion of Belagavi and other Marathi-speaking areas in Maharashtra - has fielded local candidates.Īlso read | K'taka polls: Of six surveys, Cong and BJP ahead in two each Belagavi district with second highest number of Assembly seats after Bengaluru Urban - is expected to face tough contest between the BJP and Congress as Lingayat politics surmounts the local issues, but the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) could play spoilsport in a few seats as it wants to keep the border issue alive.

Stronghold synonym