Dharwad
The political landscape in Dharwad is witnessing intriguing developments as Shivleela Kulkarni, the wife of Congress’ Dharwad rural MLA Vinay Kulkarni, reportedly engages in behind-the-scenes maneuvers for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Having previously campaigned vigorously across the region during the assembly elections, Shivleela Kulkarni played a pivotal role in securing her husband’s victory by a significant margin of 18,000 votes. Her tireless efforts involved traversing every village in the area, amplifying her campaign in the ED district. This strategic move follows MLA Vinay Kulkarni’s two major contests against Union Minister Prahlada Joshi, both of which ended in defeat. Notably, Vinay Kulkarni is presently unseated as the Rural MLA. In response, the Congress party is strategically positioning prominent leaders from the Lingayat community against Joshi. The party has orchestrated clandestine efforts to rally figures like Jagdish Shettar, Shivleela Kulkarni, and Shankar Patil into its ranks, preparing them to challenge Joshi. The Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency, encompassing 8 assembly constituencies, has transformed into a North Karnataka battleground. Since 1996, Union Minister Prahlada Joshi has held sway over this constituency. Presently, Shivleela Kulkarni is diligently campaigning across these 8 assembly constituencies, nurturing strong relationships with influential leaders within each constituency. Vinay Kulkarni’s active involvement extends to Hubli Dharwad East, Hubli Dharwad West, Hubli Dharwad Central, Kalaghatagi, Nawalagunda, Kundagola, Siggawi in Haveri district, as well as the Dharwad rural area. A significant development looms, with all leaders convening for a meeting scheduled on August 28 and 29. As the political landscape evolves, all eyes are on the unfolding dynamics that may shape the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Dharwad.
