Samiti opposes demand for inclusion of Vijayapura district under Article 371(J)

Hyderabad Karnataka Horata Samiti President Lakshman Dasti at a press conference in Kalaburagi on November 3, 2026. | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI

Hyderabad Karnataka Horata Samiti President Lakshman Dasti opposed the ongoing agitation seeking inclusion of Sindagi and Indi taluks along with Vijayapura district under Article 371(J) of the Constitution.

Addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi town on November 3, Mr. Dasti said that Article 371(J) was specifically introduced to address the regional imbalance in the seven districts of the erstwhile Hyderabad Karnataka region (now known as Kalyana Karnataka). There was no provision to include areas outside these seven districts under the existing constitutional amendment, he said.

Clarifying the Samiti’s stand, he said he had no objection to the other regions of Karnataka demanding a separate constitutional amendment to ensure special status. However, any attempt to bring Sindagi, Indi or other parts of Vijayapura district under the existing provisions of Article 371(J) would be strongly opposed.

He criticized BJP state unit president BY Vijayendra for extending support to the Sindagi agitation. “Such an attitude on a sensitive constitutional issue has hurt the sentiments of people in Kalyana Karnataka,” Mr. Dasti said.

Expressing concern over reports that some candidates from Sindagi were allegedly illegally obtaining Article 371(J) certificates and availing benefits including MBBS seats, he urged the state government and political leaders from Kalyana Karnataka region to take up the matter seriously.

He said the agitation was allegedly aimed at securing formal entitlement to such benefits in the future.

Mr. Dasti warned that any attempt to include even a village outside the seven districts under Article 371(J) would trigger strong agitation in Kalyana Karnataka. He called on organizations, youth and students to remain vigilant and be ready to protect the constitutional rights of the region.

He urged the state government to take concrete steps to ensure effective implementation of Article 371(J). The samitis reiterated their demand for a separate ministry to oversee the development of Kalyana Karnataka and ensure time-bound implementation of the special status provisions.

The government should strictly implement its February 1, 2023 circular to ensure that the region gets its rightful share of posts under the residual cadre and quota reserved under Article 371(J) on the basis of merit at the state level, he said.

Pointing out that recruitment and promotion lapses have repeatedly led to litigation, Mr. Dasti called for clear and strict guidelines along the lines of those for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to ensure the region’s rightful share of appointments and promotions.

He further demanded strict scrutiny of applications before issuing eligibility certificate under Article 371(J) to ensure that only eligible candidates from Kalyana Karnataka region get the benefits.

Published – November 4, 2026 10:11 AM IST