Taking exception to regional imbalances, MLA of Kagawad Assembly segment and chairman of North Western Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) Bharamagouda (Raju) Kage has raised the issue of separate statehood for North Karnataka and has written to chief minister Siddaramaiah on the issue.
Previously Mr. Raju Kage had threatened to quit the membership of Karnataka Legislative Assembly complaining about lack of development and paucity of funds.
In the letter dated November 4, 2025, Bharamagouda (Raju) Kage has demanded creation of North Karnataka by bringing together 15 districts of Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Bagalkot, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Koppal, Raichur, Uttara Kannada, Haveri, Vijayanagar, Ballari and Davangere.
He has said that ever since the unification of Karnataka, these districts of North Karnataka had been meted out injustice through stepmotherly treatment. Bringing these districts together for creation of a separate state would result in creation of another ‘Kannada Nadu’, he has said.
He has said that the demand for separate statehood was for the sake of comprehensive development. “North Karnataka is rich with resources and has given tremendous contribution to the conservation of Kannada and to the unification of Karnataka. I have my full support to the signature campaign launched by ‘Uttara Karnataka Horata Samiti’. Already signatures of one crore people have been collected along with their opinions”, he has said
