Belagavi bye-election: Satish Jarkiholi files nomination

Belagavi: MLA Satish Jarkiholi who will be contesting the bye-election from the Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency filed his nominations on Monday, March 29.

Satish Jarkiholi is currently the MLA of Yamkanmardi constituency.

“The Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has approved the candidature of Satish Jarkiholi as party candidate to contest the bye-election to the Lok Sabha from Belagavi parliamentary constituency of Karnataka.”

Reportedly, Satish was initially hesitant to contest the bye-elections from Belagavi and his supporters too had held a protest rally in Yamkanmardi Assembly constituency opposing the Congress party’s move to field him.

The bye-elections were necessitated following the death of former Union Minister Suresh Angadi, who contracted the novel coronavirus in September 2020.

The BJP has picked Mangala Angadi, Suresh’s wife as its candidate in the constituency.

Satish, who is from the Nayaka/Valmiki community, is part of the influential Jarkiholi family from Belagavi. The five Jarkiholi brothers grew from being sugar barons to being influential politicians. Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi is the eldest son followed by Yemkanmardi MLA Satish, Arabhavi MLA Balachandra and Bhimshi and Lakhan.

The five brothers are often political rivals. Satish and Lakhan are currently with the Congress while Ramesh, Balachandra and Bhimshi are with the BJP. They often try to ensure that at least one of the brothers is part of the ruling government.