Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 3: The division of Ballari district into two, Ballari and Vijayanagara, has, for the time being, put on hold. The state government has decided to defer the matter until the bypoll is concluded.

Former minister, Anand Singh, had mooted this proposal and followed it up actively. Chief minister, B S Yediyurappa, too had supported this demand. A meeting of people's representatives from the district, which met on Wednesday, October 2, at the home office of the chief minister, 'Krishna', failed to break the impasse with several opposing the bifurcation. The chief minister has decided to convene another meeting of people's representatives from the district after the bypoll scheduled for December 5. In the next meeting, writers, people's representatives, and dignitaries from the district will meet for taking a final decision.

At the said meeting, a faction led by MLA, G Somashekhara Reddy, held on to the stand that the district should not be divided. Instead, they proposed to change the name of the district to 'Vijayanagara'. But disqualified MLA, Anand Singh, stuck tot he stand to divide the district for achieving overall development. He said that people from Hospet and other parts find it hard to go to Ballari, which is located far away. He, therefore, demanded the bifurcation of the district.

Curiously, a prominent leader from Ballari and minister, B Sriramulu, remained quiet on the issue. He later clarified that being a part of the government, he preferred to remain a mute spectator to the proceedings. However, he said that he will personally convey his opinion on this issue to the chief minister.

In the presence of Yediyurappa, Karunakar Reddy and Anand Singh got engaged in arguments which consumed most of the meeting's time. The two fell silent only after Yediyurappa told them firmly to calm down.