Karnataka   

Once a textile hub, now an education centre

DAVANGERE: The city of Davangere was once known as the “Manchester of Karnataka” for its textile mills and vast cotton-growing area.

Scores of textile mills that flourished for over six decades produced high quality material, dhotis, saris, suitings, towels and bed-sheets, catering to the demand from all over the country.

Over 60 per cent of the population of Davangere district was directly or indirectly dependent on the textile industry.

With the closure of the textile mills, Davangere transformed itself into a noted education centre. Davangere has two medical colleges, three engineering colleges, two dental colleges and scores of MBA colleges and other colleges.

In agriculture, there has seen a shift from cotton to paddy and sugarcane.

Davangere was earlier part of Chitradurga district, and it became a separate district during the regime of J.H. Patel.

The BJP is gradually becoming strong in the district, having won three seats last time and a majority of seats in the recently concluded Davangere corporation elections.

Davangere district which had seven constituencies has eight after the delimitation exercise.

Davangere city Assembly constituency has been split into Davangere North and Davangere South.

The other Assembly segments in the district are Harihar, Harpanahalli, Honnali, Channagiri, Jagalur and Mayakonda.

The Congress and BJP won three seats each in the last Assembly elections, while the Janata Dal (S) emerged victorious in one. While the Congress won Davangere, Harpanahalli and Harihar seats, the BJP won in Mayakonda, Honnali and Jagalur Assembly constituencies. Mahima Patel, who was with the Janata Dal (S) then, had won the Channagiri seat, which was earlier represented by his father the former Chief Minister J.H. Patel.

Mayakonda, which was a general constituency, is now a reserved segment (Scheduled Castes) and Jagalur has been reserved for the Scheduled Tribes.

Harpanahalli is now a general constituency. Lingayats, Kurubas and Naiks are the major communities, followed by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and minorities.

The number of voters in the district is 1,27,8773 — 6,58,684 men and 6,20,089 women.

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