Belagavi: Banners put up by Youth Congress leader Mrinal Hebbalkar, son of Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, extending birthday wishes to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have sparked political debate across the district. The banners prominently carry the slogan 'Next CM DK Shivakumar,' drawing widespread public attention.
These banners have been installed in several parts of Belagavi city as well as in taluks such as Gokak, Bailhongal, Ramdurg, and Athani by Hebbalkar’s supporters. The move has triggered political discussion within Congress circles, particularly as it is seen as countering the aspirations of followers of Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi.
For the past few years, supporters of Jarkiholi have been actively projecting him as a potential chief ministerial candidate through social media campaigns. Against this backdrop, the open endorsement of Shivakumar by the Hebbalkar camp has intensified internal political positioning in the district.
This is not the first instance of the Hebbalkar family backing Shivakumar for the top post. Earlier in February, MLC Channaraj Hattiholi, brother of Laxmi Hebbalkar, had publicly expressed support for Shivakumar, highlighting his leadership of the party and backing from legislators. He had stated that Shivakumar enjoys the confidence of the party’s MLAs and deserves the chief minister’s post, expressing hope that he would assume the role in the near future.
