Kampli in Ballari district gives rise to speculation

BALLARI: Kampli was part of Hosapete taluk and assembly constituency till recent years and has a historical connection with the Vijayanagara Empire since the 7th century. Yet, it was not included in the new Vijayanagara district for which boundaries were drawn recently. People believe the government dropped it under pressure from social welfare minister B Sriramulu and the Reddy brothers to help the cause of Sriramulu’ son-in-law Suresh Babu.
There’s also speculation that Vijayanagara MLA and minister BS Anand Singh, who had a spat with Kampli sitting Congress MLA J N Ganesh during the coalition government, is taking the revenge by leaving it in Ballari, 50km away.Most people want Kampli to remain in Vijayanagara (Hosapete), 30km away.
Karekal Shankrappa, president, Kampli Taluku Vijayanagara Serpade Horata Samiti, alleged residents of Kampli were never asked about it. “This one-sided decision has cause much speculation. That JN Ganesh is in the Congress may be a reason. Ganesh has said in public gatherings that Sriramulu is interested in 176 acres of the Kampli Sugar Factory which was shut a decade ago. Sriramulu has been visiting the land often recently and talks of building a big factory,” he said.
Hemayyaswamy KM, working president, Kampli Taluku Horata Samiti, recalled that Kampli was a major place in 750 BC itself and was the administration centre of the Nolamba Pallavas, knights of Kalyana Chalukyas in 973 BC. “Though it was made a taluk in 2017, it falls under Hosapete assistant commissioner’s limits. It was part of Hosapete assembly constituency till 2008 and now it’s an assembly segment,” he added.
Ganesh ruled out Anand Singh’s role in putting Kampli in Ballari district. “We have a good relationshop. I supported him by joining his delegation involving swamijis and other leaders to meet the chief minister demanding district status for Vijayanagara about three months ago. I was told Kampli would be included in Vijayanagara district till three days before the announcement. I wonder why it was dropped at the last minute,” he said.
Asked about the sugar factory land issue, he said he’s collecting documents and will release them soon. Sriramulu, who visited the sugar factory land in Kampli on Tuesday, didn’t respond to repeated calls and messages.