By Manjunath K. Shresthi
November 17, 2025
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It’s a known fact that smaller states make for better administration and good governance. With the rise in population and for better allocation of resources and representation; the demand for separate state chorus has gained support from different quarters. This is a pan India pattern, and not confined to any one particular geographic region. There’s a demand for new state’s across the country. In the southern state of Karnataka, the demand is an old one.
The old Mysuru and surrounding regions are well developed, in comparison to the northern districts of Karnataka. The visionary leadership of leaders, and a firm grip on administration by people from old Mysuru, witnessed all round growth. It was supported with local talent, and put the IT capital Bengaluru on the global map. Mysuru and the entire region stole the march, and is miles ahead even today on all development parameters.
The northern districts were in the forefront of the fight for Kannada language, and led the agitation. Post 2000 onwards, a winter session is annually being held in Belagavi, which is officially designated as the state’s second capital city. The Suvarna Vidhana Soudha, was inaugurated by then former and late President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on October 11, 2012. The imposing edifice built on a hillock, is the cynosure of all eyes. A total of rs. 400 crores was spent on its construction; it lies on NH4, and is visible from far flung areas on a clear day. It offers spectacular 360° views of Belagavi city. The reason for building it, was to conduct more sessions away from state capital Bengaluru.
But the premises of the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha are used for a short duration in the entire calendar year. It’s sole purpose and objective was to discuss and deliberate about the backwardness of north Karnataka districts, and find lasting solutions in addressing it.
The regions previously known as Mumbai & Hyderabad Karnataka, have been rechristened as Kittur & Kalyan Karnataka respectively. The 15 districts in alphabetical order are as follows: Bagalkot, Belagavi, Bellary, Bidar, Davangere, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Kalburgi, Koppal, Raichur, Uttara Kannada, Vijaynagar, Vijayapura and Yadgir.
The north Karnataka districts have seen growth, but it pales in comparison to the Bengaluru- Mysuru region. There’s a long way for north Karnataka districts to go ahead and catch up, with the better developed southern parts of the state. So, when demands for separate state are raised, it’s for uniform growth of the backward regions of the state.
Recently, Kagwad MLA Raju Kage, from the ruling party, in Belagavi district raised the demand for a separate North Karnataka state. The MLA, in his letter to the President of India, raised a genuine demand for the creation of a new state. The reasons mentioned were that the region has been continuously neglected, and has received stepmotherly treatment since long.
