Speaker Koliwad up against cousin, niece in Ranebennur

Electoral rivalry is all in the family for veteran Congressman K B Koliwad, who is contesting from Ranebennur constituency in Haveri district for a record 10th time.

The Speaker of the Assembly is up against Sripad Savukar, who is contesting as a JD(S) candidate and Rukmini Savukar, who will be an independent nominee. Both of them happen to be Koliwad's relatives. Sripad and Rukmini are also Rural Development Minister H K Patil's relatives.

Sripad's wife Nalina is the daughter of Koliwad's sister. Also, Sripad is the son of Koliwad's paternal uncle. Nalina has already started campaigning for her husband.

Koliwad's son Prakash is looking after his campaigning. H K Patil's sister is married into Nalina's family. Nalina, however, said her family has maintained cordial relations with Koliwad's family.

Rukmini, who is the daughter of Koliwad's brother, recently resigned as the KPCC general secretary and decided to contest as an independent.

The Savukar family comprises of four brothers and now has 300 members. Members of the Koliwad and Patil families are married to members of the Savukar family.

Sripad has clarified that he is contesting not at the behest of JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti as believed by Koliwad, but because of his friendship with the Deve Gowda family. Koliwad was first elected to the Assembly in 1972.