In Dharwad, Karnataka, BJP MLA Arvind Bellad has strongly criticized the Congress party for its allegations regarding the proposed separation of the Dharwad municipal corporation. He accused Congress of making 'false claims' and leveraging the issue for political gain. Bellad highlighted that Hubballi-Dharwad is the second largest urban center in Karnataka and noted Dharwad's significance as an educational hub, home to numerous universities and institutions. He acknowledged the historical neglect of Dharwad's development and mentioned that the BJP had initially supported the formation of a separate municipal corporation. However, the party later reassessed this decision in light of the 16th Finance Commission's recommendations, which suggested that retaining the twin cities could secure larger Central grants based on population. Despite this, Bellad confirmed that the BJP has now decided to support the separate municipal corporation due to public sentiment and ongoing protests. He also revealed that a BJP delegation, led by Union minister Pralhad Joshi, recently met with the governor to submit a memorandum regarding the proposal, indicating that the process is moving forward. Bellad urged the public and protest leaders to prevent the issue from being exploited politically.