Former minister Murugesh Nirani recently challenged Hebbalkar’s caste identity, accusing her of falsely claiming to be a Lingayat Panchamasali to sway voters, while belonging to the Lingayat Banajiga community.
Responding to the allegations, Hebbalkar stated on Sunday, “Nirani has made some allegations against me, but I won’t answer them now since it is election time. I have a lot to say about him. I will speak after the elections.”
Following Nirani’s accusations, BJP’s Belagavi LS in-charge and former MLA Sanjay Patil made an indirect remark against Hebbalkar on Saturday. Patil suggested that she would have to consume an additional drink to sleep, after seeing the huge crowd at the BJP convention in Hindalga.
Hebbalkar has previously weathered personal attacks from the opposition. Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi levied severe personal accusations against her in the last assembly elections. He claimed to have financed her brother’s education and labelled her a “Vishkanya,” suggesting she harms those who support her. Numerous efforts were made to tarnish her image.
This should worry the BJP more than her as historical precedent indicates that Hebbalkar has demonstrated resilience in electoral politics whenever she has been subjected to personal attacks. Despite numerous allegations, she emerged victorious in the last assembly elections, securing a substantial lead of over 50,000 votes.
It is noteworthy that Hebbalkar has also engaged in personal attacks against opposition politicians. In 2022, she branded Ramesh Jarkiholi a “demon,” alleging that he obstructed the release of Rs 4 crore funds earmarked for her Belagavi Rural assembly constituency.
During the 2019 Athani assembly seat by-elections, while campaigning for the Congress candidate, Hebbalkar made a highly controversial statement against BJP candidate Mahesh Kumathalli, stating, “Mahesh Kumathalli isn’t male, female, or whatever”. Her statement was widely criticised by the opposition, particularly by Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil (Yatnal).
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