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Karnataka: Proposal for separate Shikaripur district mooted again

SHIVAMOGGA: When BS Yediyurappa became the chief minister for the first time in 2008, he had mooted a proposal to create a separate Shikaripur district by bifurcating Shivamogga district. Shikaripur is Yediyurappa’s home constituency.

The proposal has now got a fresh lease of life with Yediyurappa supporters strongly pushing for the revival of the decade-old proposal.

Howver, the district leaders of BJP in Shivamogga made it clear that there is no such proposal.

According to RK Shambhu, president of Shikaripur taluk panchayat, a unanimous decision in this regard was taken at the general body meeting of Shikaripura taluk panchayat general on Tuesday. “Shikaripur has all the facilities, from full-fledged hospitals to buildings, for various district-level departments. The taluk has every potential to become a separate district,” he said.

According to those who demand a separate Shikaripur district, five taluks shall be included in the new district. “We want the state government to include Nyamati and Hirekerur from Davanagere district and Soraba and Shikaripur taluks of Shivamogga district in this new district. Shiralakoppa shall be developed into a separate taluk. In total, five taluks shall become part of this new district,” said Shambhu, a close follower of both Yediyurappa and his son, MP BY Raghavendra.

However, S Rudre Gowda, district president of BJP, said no proposal has come up to bifurcate Shivamogga district.

JD(S) district unit president RM Manjunath Gowda said Shikaripur town has been given a facelift and it has all the facilities.

“Earlier, a separate Davanagere district was formed after dividing Shivamogga. If the state government feels that further bifurcation improves the administration, let it form the separate Shikaripura district,” he said.

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