MES bags 3 posts in Standing committee and also wins at Taluka Panchayat
7:42 AM Posted by ukmad
Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti bagged three of the four standing committees of Belgaum City Corporation (BCC) at the elections held on Monday. Basavant Halagekar was elected as chairpersons of committees of planning and development & Sanjay Prabhu for accounts. Pandhari Parab became the chairman of finance and taxation committee. Shanta Uppar, the only member of Kannada faction, will lead health committee.
MES stages agitation near corporation building
1:12 PM Posted by ukmad
About 15 MES activists have been arrested, sources told. There is a notable police presence near the new premises.
The KRV is also protesting for the Kannada Flag be hoisted on the new building.
On some channels its being shown as there is tension in the city, but I don’t guess anything of that nature is happening as of now.
Why this fire?
10:20 AM Posted by ukmad
Miscreants, of CHAVA group set on fire a North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) bus in Latur, while another bus of the corporation was pelted with stones at Udgir, in Maharashtra on Sunday. No one was injured in the incident but it was done to demonstrate the anger of Marathi people against Kannad people, it is said.
I have a question to all those who are doing this, why this fire? Y
ou burnt the bus there someone will burn a Maharashtra Bus in Karnataka today. Then someone will beat up someone and this will go on and on and what will Belgaum get?The fire is burning somewhere else and the burns are somewhere else.
I take this opportunity to ask all Belgaumites, both Kannad & Marathi speaking to be calm and think over with a cool head. This matter just won’t end here I guess this time.
We need to think what will we get after all this? After the session is over no one will look at us and no one will cover Belgaum as they are doing now.
We have to live together here. We have to come together and tell all may what happen in the Supreme court, we have been living together and we will.
Gandhigiri in Thane: roses given to Driver and commuters in KSRTC bus
6:27 PM Posted by ukmad
Th
is time it seems the Border row is taking its own route. In Thane, Maharashtra the members of the Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena did a Gandhigiri style demonstration by giving roses to all the drivers and Commuters of all KSRTC busses plying from Thane towards Karnataka.All pics taken from Star Majha and IBN Lokmat.
This is my endeavor to give you news about Belgaum from where ever it is. This is an unbiased news report. I have tried to post stories related to the Assembly from various news papers and websites. This is also a part of the same endeavor.
Martyrs day being observed by MES today
10:19 AM Posted by ukmad
Ramdas Kadam, leader of opposition of Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha and Shiv Sena MP Bharatkumar Raut were present here today to pay homage to all the martyrs at Hutatma chowk.
A procession will proceed to Maratha Mandir, near over bridge where a Blood donation camp has been organized. A meeting at the Sambhaji Udyan, Shahpur is being organized in the evening.
The meeting planned at Sambhaji Udyan called off after the Govt. denies permission. Ramdas Kadam spoke at Hutatma Chowk.
KRV activists face lathi charge at corporation
8:06 PM Posted by ukmad
When a few of the activists’ made and entry into the building lathi charge was resorted to to disperse the crowd. One activist was injured during the lathi charge.
The activists said that they are ready to lay down their lives but will see the Kannada flag on the Corporation building.
Lele Ground is a fortress
9:59 AM Posted by ukmad
Barricades have been put on the roads leading to the ground. No is being allowed to go on the ground. The MES has called in for the Maha Mellava at 12pm as time passes by the atmosphere will get hotter there.
Belgaum is getting hotter, politically
10:21 AM Posted by ukmad
The state govt, has denied the MES permission for the parallel Maha Mellava and hence these arrests. A few more could be arrested today.
There is huge police establishment in Belgaum since yesterday and Belgaum is turning into a fortress. About 4000 police personal have been called in for duty to Belgaum from various other places. Rapid Action force has also been called in.
The situation could get hotter through the day.
Even after the arrests the MES claims it will hold the maha Mellava, may what come.
Source inputs Tarun Bharat & Pudhari
No permission to MES to hold Maha Melava
4:47 PM Posted by ukmad
No permission has been given to MES to hold the session. The MES had planned to invite Maharashtra deputy CM Chagan Bhujbal and Raj Thackrey on January 16 for the Maha Melava as a parallel session to the legislative session to begin on the same day.
"MES is playing with the sentiments of Kannadigas and Marathis. But we will not get in their way. We'll intervene if they create law and order problems," Yeddyurappa said.
The material brought by the MES for the said Melva was confiscated by the police.
Source: Times of India
KRV threatens agitation
10:17 AM Posted by ukmad
If they were [ermitted to hold the Melva, then a seprate Melva for the Kannadigas would also be organized, KRV district president Rajveev Topannavar said.
Aba: R R Patil invited for MES MahaMela on Jan 16
10:08 AM Posted by ukmad
The MES has approached the district administration for the same for seeking the permission etc. R R Patil has accepted the invitation.
Source: Tarun Bharat
Legislature session in Belgaum: MES opposes
2:56 PM Posted by ukmad
It has also said that the Government would be responsible for any untoward incidents during the agitations.
“Maha Melava” on January 16 is planned as a parallel session when the session starts.
As the matter is pending in the Supreme Court it is unfit for the state government to hold a session here, the leaders here said.
Source: The Hindu
MES rebel, his supporters face wrath of Marathi people
8:11 AM Posted by ukmad
Source The HinduThey were not allowed to pay tributes at a memorial in Hindalga
Leader of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi who unsuccessfully contested the Assembly
elections as a rebel candidate and his supporters faced the wrath of Marathi-speaking people at Hindalga near here on Sunday on the occasion of “Hutatma Divas” (martyr’s day).
Marathi-speaking people led by MES have been observing June 1 as martyr’s day since 1986 to pay tributes to eight people who were killed in police firing.
The MES had organised a “satyagraha” on June 1, 1986 to oppose the State Government’s decision to make Kannada a compulsory language in schools. Marathi-speaking people had joined the agitation in large numbers and resorted to violence. Eight people were killed in police firing in Hindalga, Belgundi and Uchagaon villages and Old Belgaum city areas.Later, a memorial was built at Hindalga where MES leaders and Marathi-speaking people pay homage to them every year.
Trouble broke out on Sunday when B.I. Patil, former MES MLA and Belgaum taluk unit president, Ramesh Gangaram Pawale, who contested as MES rebel candidate from Belgaum North, Suresh Dhokre, Ninguji Huddar and Manoj Pause arrived at Hindalga to pay tributes at the memorial. Residents of the village shouted slogans against them and termed them as “gaddars” (traitors).The MES was drubbed in the elections, which is being seen as an “historic defeat” in its electoral war against Karnataka Government and Kannadigas.
The residents said, “The ‘gaddars’ have no right to touch the portraits of those who sacrificed their lives for the cause of unity of Marathi-speaking people.”
Later, the police arrived at the scene and took control of the situation. However, Mr. Patil and the four others had to return without paying tributes to the martyrs.
9:39 PM Posted by ukmad
The Mumbai-Karnataka region that's seen fierce border dispute for the last 50 years, votes in the third phase of polls on Thursday.
To See Video Click here
It’s been the war cry of the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) in Belgaum for five decades - MES candidates like Manohar Kinekar have been winning local body and Assembly elections on just one issue that they'll fight to make Belgaum a part of Maharashtra.
MES candidate Manohar Kinekar said, “When the border issue is solved all other problems are solved too because we'll participate better in governance and we can solve the problem in better way.”
But this time the MES has to contend with its own rebels in 3 of 5 Assembly seats. After being denied tickets, leaders like Shivaji Sunthkar, have decided to stand independently.
Sunthkar said, “People are out on the streets saying their favourite candidate has been sidelined by the party and so they want me to fight as an independent.”
Its this in-fighting in MES that Congress and BJP are banking on. They are seeking votes on the development plank.
And 50 years after re-organisation of States, that's the election issue for the aam aadmi too.
The language issue is certainly an emotional one, but you can't live on it. Be it the Marathi manus or the Kannada manava, the basics of roti, kapda and makaan are more important.
And that's could well help parties other than the MES in gaining ground.
Linguistic divide takes a backseat in Belgaum
2:27 PM Posted by ukmad
Source: http://in.rediff.com/news/2008/may/19kgovt.htm Submitted by Sheri Sundeep
In Belgaum, the linguistic divide takes a backseat
Karnataka and Maharashtra have been locked in a dispute over Belgaum since 1956 when the district was incorporated into Karnataka (the then Mysore state) with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act.
Belgaum features in the third and final phase of the Karnataka election, which will be held on May 22.
The run-up to the election was chaotic. In 2005, the Belgaum Municipal Corporation, which then had the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in a majority, resolved to merge Belgaum with Maharashtra.
Following angry protests, which included Mayor Vijay More's face being blackened by Kannada activists, the then state government headed by H D Kumaraswamy stepped in and superseded the corporation.
Coverage: Battleground Karnataka
When the corporation was superseded, many people thought the decision would impact the assembly election.
The Kumaraswamy-led Janata Dal-Secular-Bharatiya Janata Party coalition government had then dubbed Belgaum Karnataka's second capital and even held a week-long special session of the Karnataka assembly in the city.
Belgaum's name was also proposed to be changed to Belagavi. However, this has been kept on hold by the Union government.
With four days left for the election, Belgaum seems quiet on the border issue. Some of the city's Maharashtrian and Kannadiga residents say that in this era of globalisation there is no point fighting each other on the basis of language.
The MES, which won just two of Belgaum's 18 assembly seats in the 2004 election, still has the border dispute as its main campaign issue. MES leaders say they will ensure that Belgaum is merged with Maharashtra.
An MES activist told rediff.com that there is a need to bring about awareness among the Marathi-speaking people in Belgaum district who comprise 75 per cent of the 564,000 population. They say November 1, which is celebrated as Kannada Rajyothsava Day (the day Karnataka was established from the old Mysore state), is observed as a black day in Belgaum by MES activists.
BJP way ahead of others: Exit poll
Although political parties like the MES may try to whip up emotions on the border dispute, Maharashrian residents say whether Belgaum belongs to Karnataka or Maharashtra, development of the district is what ultimately counts.
National parties like the BJP and Congress have steered clear of the border issue; their campaigns highlight development. Congress leader and chief ministerial aspirant Mallikarjuna Kharge says the border issue is dead and there is no point raking it up now.
'People are fed up with coalition govts'
The recent election to the Belgaum City Corporation was fought between two groups, instead of individual parties. The pro-Kannada-Urdu group won the election against the pro-Marathi group. The validity of the election has now been challenged before the Supreme Court on the ground that unfair practices were used.
The MES would win at least nine assembly seats from Belgaum in elections before 1999. However, the numbers touched a dismal two seats in the 2004 election.
In rural Belgaum, there is an acute shortage of water. The rate of unemployment too is high. Basic amenities like roads, schools and health centres are what Belgaum needs, not an issue that belongs to the history books.
Now Belgaum South will also have a nice fight
10:41 AM Posted by ukmad
By doing this the marathi vote that would have been divided can possibly go into Kiran Saynak's favour. But still the fight in South will be between, Sambhaji Patil(INC), Abhay Patil (BJP) & now Kiran Sayank (MES).
MES face a tough time as rebels contest
4:20 PM Posted by ukmad
From now on I will try and update about the various aspects that will effect the result of the election. North will be the most fierce battle of all. Will elaborate on each constitunecy later. Here's the first post in that regard.
Source: The New Indian Express
FIRST time in the five-decade-old history of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) the pro-Maharashtrian organization is facing tough time with rebels contesting in four out of five Assembly constituencies in Belgaum district.
Six activists have contested as rebel against the official candidate in Khanapur constituency alone. Ramesh Pavale and Badavannache have contested against official candidate former mayor Vijay More in Belgaum North, former mayor Shivaji Sunthakar is contesting against former MES MLA Manohar Kinekar in Belgaum Rural, Deepak Dalavi is contesting against Kiran Sainak in Belgaum South and Muralidhar Patil, Vaishali Patil, Aravind Patil, Mahadev Maragale, Mugutsab Dharwadi and D M Gurav contested against former MES MLA Digambar Patil in Khanapur.
Apart from this MES is also facing threat from Shiva Sena as its district chief Prakash Shirolkar is contesting from Belgaum South and Khemanna Patil in Khanapur. Meanwhile, MES is being divided in different groups as its former Uchagoan MLA B I Patil openly declared his support to Sunthakar in rural segment and advised the MES activists to work for his victory.
Vijay More faced a tough time during his campaign too. As may as 18 galli units opposed his candidature and asked him to stay back from the election in the interest of the Marathi speaking population in the border areas. The pro-Maharashtrians opposed More’s candidature as he is not a Marathi speaking person and is a new entrant into the organisation.
But MES, defending its decision, pointed out that Marathi speaking population in Belgaum North was reduced to minority after delimitation. Presence of More would attract even non-Marathi votes, particularly dalits and backward community people, MES felt
MES Splits
9:52 AM Posted by ukmad
More’s nomination angers MES workers in Belgaum
9:52 AM Posted by ukmad
MES appears to have gone by ‘good image’ of More
More was attacked by Kanada activists in 2005 in Bangalore
The decision of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) to field the former Mayor of Belgaum Vijay Pandurang More in Belgaum North Assembly Constituency for the May 22 elections has sparked angry protests against its leadership.
A group of MES workers, believed to be supporters of senior MES leader Deepak Dalvi, on Friday morning threw stones at the house of Kiran Thakur, who is a senior MES leader and editor of popular Marathi daily newspaper Tarun Bharat.
Miscreants threw stones at Lokmanya Credit Co-operative Society in Bhagyanagar locality. Mr. Thakur is the founder-director of the society. Sources in the MES told The Hindu that the Dalvi camp was given a raw deal by MES leadership and rejected the claim of Mr. Dalvi to contest from Belgaum North.
It may be recalled here that Mr. Dalvi was arrested by the police in connection with violence against Kannada workers and was in Hindalga Jail for more than two months.
He had lost the elections in 1989 and 2004 as an independent.
But, the MES seems to have gone by the “good image” of Mr. More not only among the Marathi-speaking people but also among the Kannada-speaking and other lingustic communities cutting across religious and caste barriers.
Mr. More, who was elected as Mayor in 2005 when the post was reserved for Scheduled Caste, had faced the wrath of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike following a controversial resolution on “boundary dispute” between Karnataka and Maharashtra on the question of Belgaum and other areas.
The vedike activists had attacked Mr. More, the former mayor Shivaji Sunthakar and former MLA B.I. Patil near Vidhana Soudha and daubed their faces with black paint on November 11, 2005.
MES team to meet Pawar, Thackeray
7:20 AM Posted by ukmad
Five-man panel to be set up
It will appeal for support to MES in Karnataka polls
‘BJP growth has caused loss to MES’
The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi (MES) has decided to set up a five-member committee to work for unity of all political parties enjoying support of Marathi-speaking people in its favour.
The committee members would soon meet Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray and Nationalist Congress Party president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar in Mumbai and appeal to them to support the cause of MES in the Assembly elections in Karnataka.
This was decided at a meeting of MES members under the leadership of the former Minister and president of Shetkari Kamgar Paksha in Maharashtra, N.D. Patil, here on Wednesday.
The former MES MLAs, B.I. Patil, Manohar Kinekar and Digamber Patil, and senior MES leaders Malojirao Ashtekar, Deepak Dalvi and the editor of Marathi daily, Tarun Bharat, Kiran Thakur, were present.
Today’s meeting was introspective in nature as the leaders tried to look into the reasons that led to the fall of the MES in the previous two Assembly polls in the State. Mr. N.D. Patil observed that, in Karnataka, a sizeable section of Marathi-speaking youth in Belgaum district had drifted away from the MES to the BJP. The losses suffered by the MES were because of the growth of the BJP and not because of the Congress or any other party in the State.
As a majority of workers/supporters of the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra were Marathi-speaking, the committee members would request their leaders not to field candidates in Assembly pockets where MES has an edge. This would help the MES to ensure unity and elicit complete support of Marathi-speaking voters in the polls.
The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party are expected to make a common cause with MES in the ensuing polls. It was also necessary for the leaders to remain united and work for success of its candidates, he said.
