Congress MLA from Devara Hipparagi constituency in Bagalkot district A.S. Patil Nadahalli, who had been demanding statehood for north Karnataka, did a volte face on Friday saying that statehood was not his agenda.
Speaking to presspersons after meeting veteran journalist Patil Puttappa at his house in Hubballi on Friday, Mr. Nadahalli clarified that the development of north Karnataka was his agenda and not statehood. “I had only said that if the comprehensive development of the region does not take place, then seeking statehood would become inevitable,” he said. He clarified that several legislators had supported the demand for statehood mainly due to the lack of development.
