BENGALURU/KALABURAGI: For many Hyderabad-Karnataka means a backward region that sizzles in summer. That’s partly true, as the region that was once ruled by Nizam of Hyderabad is yet to catch up with the rest of the state.
People in the region that has been a Congress’ stronghold since Independence and home to many stalwarts such as Veerandra Patil, Dharam Singh and Mallikarjuna Kharge have had to deal with lack of basic facilities, and live with unemployment, shortage of drinking water, lack of sanitation, erratic power supply and public transport.
Except cement industries in Kalaburgi district, there are hardly any industries that can generate employment. That is one of the reasons for large-scale migration of people to cities like Bengaluru.
“It is a backward region when you look at many parameters, including number of schools and hospitals, basic amenities and infrastructure development,” says former Dean, Political Sciences Department, at Bangalore University, RLM Patil.“All regions that were under Nizam’s rule remained backward even after Independence and distance from the state capital may have also been a reason,” he adds.
‘Neglect by state’
To improve living conditions in the region by addressing regional imbalance, the state government in 2000 had formed a committee, but implementation of its recommendations started only in 2008 and funds released for this were inadequate.“Successive state and central governments have shown a neglectful attitude towards Hyderabad Karnataka region,” says President of Hyderabad Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industries Amarnath C Patil.
Irrigation is another issue in the dry region that was among the areas that was worst hit by consecutive droughts. Irrigation expert of North Karnataka region Panchappa Kalaburagi says even after four decades of the Bachavat Committee Award on utilisation of 15 tmc ft of Bhima River water to irrigate 38 villages of Vijayapura district and 140 villages of Kalaburagi and Yadgir districts, the state government has made little efforts to resolve the water dispute and to implement the projects.
Development or lack of it will be one of the major issues, ahead of May 12 polls, in which the Congress led by its veteran leader Kharge will be fighting to retain its stronghold over the region. The BJP that had made inroads into the region in last few elections is looking to consolidate its position and expand its base, while the JD (S) too cannot be ignored.
In 2008 elections, BJP had secured 12 and Congress had got 14 out of 31 seats in the region. In 2013, the Congress regained its hold by securing 20 and the BJP got just four. However, in the parliamentary elections, BJP had won two out of four seats in 2009 and 2014 elections.
Internal squabbles
Rumblings within the party may make it difficult for the Congress to continue its winning streak. Six-time MLA and former minister Malikayya Guttedar’s exit will have some impact, while many senior leaders such as former minister Dr AB Malaka Reddy are also not too happy with the way party treated them in last few years. The BJP lacks a leader who can take on Kharge.
According to political analysts, the Congress will be hoping to make most of its efforts in getting Special Status for the region under Article 371J of the Constitution.Congress leader Mallikarjuna Kharge says, “This Amendment is the biggest boon to Hyderabad-Karnataka. In all, over 700 students of this region were getting admission in government medical colleges in this region every year and they were spending very little as fees. Thousands of students were getting admission in various engineering colleges. Over 22,000 youngsters in the region got employment in different departments in the last three years. Is it not development,” he asks.
Prof Chandrakant Yatnoor, Registrar, Central University of Karnataka agrees with Kharge. Good education system is important for the region and number of educational institutions have been established too, he says. While many agree that the Status has helped with better educational opportunities, people say that government jobs are still out of reach.
The government is providing `1,500 crore every year to Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Development Board for creation of necessary infrastructure. While the government is spending huge sums, most of the villages of the region, including towns such as Kalaburagi, have been facing acute drinking water problem.Houses in many villages still do not have toilets.
Lingayat bet
Siddaramaiah’s party will also hope to cash in on the government’s bold move to accord special status to Lingayat religion. The region has considerable number of Lingayats as the 12the Century social revolution led by Basavanna had started in the region. Each district in the region have number of Veerashaiva-Lingayat mutts. However, it is still not clear, if the community backs Congress or will it go with BJP’s chief ministerial candidate who has considerable following in the community.
