Haliyal: Ever since the Marathas in Haliyal, Dandeli and Joida began rallying for unity by holding conventions to demand 2A category status for their caste, many of them started nurturing a strong desire for a Maratha MLA for the region. These rallies were held on a political grounds and MLC S L Ghotnekar, a prominent Maratha Congress leader, spearheaded two such ‘Ek Maratha Lakh Maratha’campaigns. G R Patil, retired police officer, who is now a strong contender for the BJP ticket, was also part of the movement. However, the campaign was kept aloof from poll politics.

Now a section of the Marathas, of whom over 65,000 are said to be the voters in Haliyal assembly constituency, have been raising its voice for G R Patil’s candidature from BJP for the upcoming assembly polls. About two days back, Maratha leaders held a meeting in Dandeli, in which they have decided that if G R Patil is not given a BJP ticket, they will field him as an independent candidate and ensure his victory.

Dr Mohan Patil, renowned surgeon of Dandeli and also chief of the Maratha community, told Express that a message has been conveyed to the BJP leadership. If this happens, the assembly polls in Haliyal constituency, consisting Haliyal-Dandeli and Joida taluks, is sure to witness a very fierce contest between Congress and BJP.