Archive · 13 Nov 2025
Congress MLA Renews Call for Separate North Karnataka State
A politician named Raju Kage, who is a Congress MLA, has written letters to the President and Prime Minister asking for a new state.
This new state would be called North Karnataka and would include 15 districts from the northern part of the current Karnataka state.
Raju Kage believes that this part of Karnataka has not been treated fairly since the state was first formed.
He feels that a separate state would help this region develop better and be easier to manage.
He is also supporting a petition where over one crore people have signed, agreeing with this demand.
This is not the first time such a demand has been made for a separate North Karnataka state.
However, another politician, Minister Ramalinga Reddy, believes that states were already divided by language and that asking for a new state now isn't right.
He suggests focusing on getting more funds for development instead of dividing the state.
Congress MLA Bharamgouda (Raju) Kage has written to the President and Prime Minister demanding a separate state for 15 districts of North Karnataka.
Kage cited alleged injustice, discrimination, and neglect faced by the region since the unification of Karnataka.
The proposed North Karnataka state would encompass 15 districts for administrative convenience and holistic development.
The MLA supports a signature campaign by the North Karnataka Struggle Committee, which claims over one crore signatures in favor of the demand.
This is a renewal of a decades-old demand for separate statehood for the North Karnataka region.
Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy dismissed the demand, stating that states were divided by language in 1956 and suggested seeking more funds for development instead.
- Who
- Congress MLA Bharamgouda (Raju) Kage
- What
- Renewed the demand for a separate state of North Karnataka comprising 15 districts
- When
- Letter dated November 4, shared on Wednesday, November 13, 2025
- Where
- Karnataka, India
- Why
- To address alleged injustice, discrimination, and neglect, and for administrative convenience and holistic development
Arguments FOR Separate State
Arguments AGAINST Separate State
Development and Administration
Arguments FOR Separate State
A separate state would provide administrative convenience and promote holistic development in the 15 northern districts.
Arguments AGAINST Separate State
States were divided on language in 1956, and a new demand for separate statehood is not right. Instead, the focus should be on demanding more funds for North Karnataka's development.
Historical Injustice
Arguments FOR Separate State
The northern region has allegedly faced continuous injustice, discrimination, and neglect in all sectors since Karnataka's unification.
Arguments AGAINST Separate State
Historical grievances can be addressed within the current framework through targeted policies and better governance, without the need for state bifurcation.
Regional Identity
Arguments FOR Separate State
Formation of a separate state would create another proud Kannada-speaking state, reflecting the region's rich resources and contribution to Kannada culture.
Arguments AGAINST Separate State
A unified Karnataka fosters stronger regional identity and shared progress. Dividing the state could undermine this unity.
- Advocate
- Congress MLA Bharamgouda (Raju) Kage
- Recipients of Letter
- President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot
- Proposed State Name
- North Karnataka state
- Districts Included
- 15 northern districts (Bidar, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Yadgir, Bagalkote, Belagavi, Dharwad, Gadag, Koppal, Raichur, Uttara Kannada, Haveri, Vijayanagara, Ballari, Davanagere)
- Reasons for Demand
- Alleged injustice, discrimination, neglect, administrative convenience, and holistic development
- Supporting Campaign
- Signature campaign by North Karnataka Struggle Committee
- Signatures Collected
- Over one crore
- Previous Memorandums
- Submitted to President on January 4 and PMO on January 5 this year
