BJP candidate Ramesh Jarkiholi, a six time MLA, is an influential political leader not only in his home turf but also the entire Belagavi district. He was among the 17 MLAs who defected from Congress to the BJP in 2019 toppling the Congress-JDS coalition government. Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said the development works are undertaken ony by the BJP government and not the Congress which has only given "corruption, crime and commission" besides its anti-Lingayat approach in Karnataka
