In Belgaum, politics is a relative phenomenon

Legislators and former members of the Belgaum Zilla panchayat are now fielding their close relatives in the seats, to perpetuate their domination.

Former legislator Prakash Hukkeri of the Congress is working overtime to get two of his relatives into the ZP. He has fielded his son Ganesh from Manjari, and his sister-in-law, Sumana Hukkeri, from Yaksamba.

The last time around, Ganesh was elected to the ZP from Yaksamba, but with the seat having been reserved for women, he is now in the fray from Manjari.

Member of Legislative Council Veerakumar Patil saw no problem when Kooganolli from where his son Pankaj was elected to the ZP last time, was reserved for women.
The family has now fielded Amrita, wife of Pankaj Patil, from Kooganolli. Not to be left behind, Prahlad Remani, MLA of the ruling BJP, has put up his son Gajanan to contest from Nandgad.

The Kokatnur ZP constituency is a battle of family proxies.

Former member of ZP from Kokatnur, Appasaheb Avatade has taken in his stride his seat being reserved for women this time around, and has fielded his wife.

So has Mustafa Davalbhai who had won the seat last time as the Congress candidate. His wife will be the BJP candidate.

Yet another spouse, wife of former vice-president T R Kagal, makes it a battle of the spouses.