Independent candidate from Karnataka gets aboard a bullock cart to draw attention to the Mahadayi water dispute

Shivanand Muttannavar, the independent candidate running for the Lok Sabha seat of Dharwad, filed his nomination on Tuesday by organizing an unusual march from Hubballi to Dharwad. Together with his followers, Muttannavarr, a former Hubballi ward member, rode a bullock cart 20 kilometers.

Following the defacement of the sculptures of Rani Chennamma and independence hero Sangolli Rayanna by Muttannavar and his followers, the demonstration got underway. The rally took an hour to reach Dharwad, with the adorned bullock carts serving as the main attraction. In some areas, the police let the carts to go within a designated BRTS lane, and several people were seen shooting pictures and videos of the carts.

Muttannavar said that the Mahadayi waters have been a source of conflict for the people of North Karnataka for a long time. He said that the Mahadayi problem benefited several politicians in this area. “On Mahadayi, neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Union Minister Pralhad Joshi had spoken a word. Joshi was repeatedly elected, yet he remained silent in the Parliament. The purpose of the cart rally, according to him, is to draw attention to the need for voters to choose the best candidate.

This time around, Dingaleshwar Swamiji (independent), Vinod Asoti (Congress), and Joshi (BJP) are anticipated to engage in an intriguing race in Dharwad. It is anticipated that the seer’s entry would split the Lingayat votes. However, Asoti and Muttannavar are both members of the Kuruba ethnic group.

Political observers also assert that Muttannavar is running on senior BJP leader K Eshwarappa’s recommendation after the latter’s son’s denial of the Haveri ticket. Eshwarappa is an independent from Shivamogga who is running for office.