BIJAPUR: The Ministry expansion has disappointed the ruling parties as well as general pubic here as the exercise has failed to find place for anyone from Bijapur district.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has three MLAs from the district and the Janata Dal (S) one in R.K. Rathod representing Ballolli reserve segment. Three-time independent MLA from Indi segment Ravikant Patil is now an associate member of the Janata Dal (S).

Bijapur MP and former Union Minister of State for Railways Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal lobbied to get a berth for the senior MLA from Huvinahipparagi segment Shivaputrappa Desai, who was in the Janata Parivar before joining the BJP just before the last general elections. He has represented the segment three times, and headed a State-owned board when the late J.H. Patel was the Chief Minister. However, he has missed post in the Ministry this time.

Bijapur MLA Appasaheb Pattanashetti and Sindagi MLA Ashok Shabadi are first timers. Unlike his Sindagi counterpart, the Bijapur MLA made strong efforts. He took many delegations to Bangalore to impress upon the party leadership. However, his claim for the berth is rather seen in party circles as a prelude for a post in any one of boards and corporations.

The fact that the district went un-represented in the Ministry is hard to digest for the BJP leaders as they used to criticise the Congress for failing to get representation in the Ministry to the district in the previous regime.

The Janata Dal (S) camp has also been left disappointed as it was hoping a berth for Mr. Rathod.

After former Minister H.Y. Meti aligned with the former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Mr. Rathod is the only party MLA from Bijapur and Bagalkot districts and also the only one from the Lambani community in the party. The party leaders are still hopeful of his inclusion in the next round of expansion but they are not optimistic about the chances of associate member Ravikant Patil as another associate member of the party, Bandeppa Kashempur, has been inducted into the Ministry.

Jubilation

In Bagalkot, there has been some jubilation about the induction of Mudhol MLA Govind Karjol in the Ministry but the BJP members are not happy as they were expecting at least two berths for the district which returned six MLAs from seven segments.

However, the fear of a setback to development in the region seems to be reason for disappointment among the people.

According to Babanna Shirol, a retail merchant, the Bijapur-Gadag broadgauge conversion project and irrigation schemes have been languishing for long. They may be delayed without a strong voice in the Ministry.

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