Agitators lock municipal offices as protest against Dharwad Municipal Corporation enters fifth day

Agitators participating in an indefinite agitation demanding bifurcation of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation in Dharwad on Tuesday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The endless agitation demanding bifurcation of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) to form a municipal corporation for Dharwad entered the fifth day on Tuesday even as protesters intensified the agitation by locking several municipal offices in Dharwad.

In a protest led by members of Dharwad Separate Corporation Protest Forum and supported by Dharwad Bar Association and Dharwad Dhwani, protesters marched to the offices of Hubballi-Dharwad West MLA Arvind Bellad, Mayor Jyoti Patil and Corporation Commissioner Rudresh Gali located at the Dharwad Municipal Corporation headquarters and raised slogans against the Dharwad State Government. They then locked the offices as part of the increased protest.

The protesters, comprising people from different walks of life, had earlier staged a demonstration outside the Municipal Corporation office in Dharwad. They even raised slogans like “Bellad Hatao, Dharwad Bachao” and “Joshi Hatao” against MLA Arvind Bellad and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, whom they said were responsible for the delay in fulfilling their long-pending demand.

Further intensifying their agitation, the forum indicated that they are considering appealing to the people of Dharwad not to pay property tax to the corporation until their demand is met.

Meanwhile, a delegation reached Bengaluru to meet Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot on the issue after the Governor granted a meeting to the delegation led by Mr. Pralhad Joshi.

Published – 19 May 2026 20:46 IST