Published Aug 17, 2026 | 2:33 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 17, 2026 | 2:33 PM
Molakalmuru MLA NY Gopalakrishna.
Synopsis: Karnataka Congress leader and Molakalmuru MLA NY Gopalakrishna has said his suggestion to merge the constituency with Andhra Pradesh was a “slip of the tongue”, and that he meant Ballari or neighbouring Challakere. He said he raised the issue to highlight Molakalmuru’s lack of development, inadequate government funding and apologised for the remark.
Karnataka Congress leader and Molakalmuru MLA NY Gopalakrishna on Monday, 17 August said his suggestion that the constituency in Chitradurga district should be merged with Andhra Pradesh to bring better development was a “slip of the tongue” and that he had actually meant Ballari or the neighbouring Challakere constituency.
Speaking to reporters, Gopalakrishna said his remarks were aimed at drawing attention to Molakalmuru’s lack of development, the shortage of government funding and its exclusion from the benefits of the Hyderabad-Karnataka Regional Development Board.
In his original remarks, made during an event at Molakalmuru, Gopalakrishna said the constituency was located in a remote corner of the State and “nobody really notices” it.
“If it were in other parts of the state, it would be much easier for everyone—even prominent people, not just ordinary people—to notice it. Since Molakalmuru is situated in a remote corner, people don’t really know about it. As a result, even the MLAs from Molakalmuru do not receive any respect. Therefore, if they merged Molakalmuru to either Andhra Pradesh or the neighbouring Challakere and create a unified unit, it would be beneficial,” he said.
“It is very painful for me because, ever since I came to this taluk, I have been an MLA here for around 25 to 30 years. Even before that, when I travelled extensively through this area as a public representative, I witnessed many difficulties. We should do something about this…”
Former Molakalmuru MLA and BJP leader N Thippeswamy criticised Gopalakrishna’s comments and alleged that he was upset over being denied a ministerial berth during the recent Cabinet expansion. He said the statement had hurt the sentiments of people in the constituency.
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Gopalakrishna said his remarks were not intended to hurt anyone’s sentiments or embarrass the government.
“It is true that I said Molakalmuru should either be merged with Ballari, or, if that was not possible, with Challakere, and brought under that constituency. But instead of saying Ballari or Challakere, I mistakenly said Andhra Pradesh. I realised this only later, when journalists pointed it out to me and showed me the recording. I did not say anything with the intention of causing embarrassment to any organisation or to the government. Nor do I have any need to make such statements,” he said.
“For that mistake, I sincerely apologise. I believe that because of this small mistake on my part, many people have been hurt.”
He said he had been raising these concerns based on his long experience in the constituency.
“My intention was entirely in the interest of the people and the taluk. Molakalmuru is in the dryland region and is essentially a drought-prone, barren area. We needed to find some way to develop it. But somewhere along the way, we have failed. We have seen successive governments, and our taluk has remained deprived of the funds that should have come to it,” he said.
“This is something we see every day, and it causes me considerable pain.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
