Dharwad Corporation Demand: A relay hunger strike was started on the eighth day of the protest

The agitation seeking bifurcation of the Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation to create a separate municipal corporation for Dharwad entered the eighth day on Friday and after intensifying the agitation, the agitation committee started a relay hunger strike and a protest march with bullocks. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The agitation seeking bifurcation of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation to create a separate corporation for Dharwad entered the eighth day on Friday with the agitation committee starting a relay hunger strike.

More organizations have come forward to show solidarity with the agitation and around 200 workers led by union leaders from Dandeli took part in the protest on Friday.

Announcing the start of the relay hunger strike, senior advocate and activist BD Hiremath said the agitation committee was not satisfied with the governor’s stand on the issue and decided to continue the agitation until the demand was met.

On the first day of the relay hunger strike, activists Venkatesh Machakanur, Manoj Patil, Shivashankar Hampannavar, Kavitha Kabber and Deepa Neeralakattii fasted for the entire day. On Saturday, five more will hold a fast.

The protesters also hinted that they would call for a Dharwad bandh on May 30 if their demand was not met.

Addressing the protesters, officials of various organizations accused Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and MLA Arvind Bellad of delaying the governor’s approval of the bifurcation proposal and thereby betraying the people of Dharwad. As the agitation intensified, they took the delegation to cover up their act, they alleged.

They demanded that since they had stopped the procedure, they should now convince the governor to approve it.

A number of leaders took part in Friday’s agitation, during which a protest march with oxen was taken out.

Meanwhile, Congress leaders lashed out at BJP leaders, who earlier held up banners claiming credit for the Cabinet’s decision on bifurcation, hoisting banners mocking Mr. Joshi and Mr. Bellad.

Published – 23 May 2026 0:40 AM IST