Gadag, famous for its cooperative movement has become a hotbed of politics with most popular leader and former minister H K Patil,son of late K H Patil, or popularly known as Hulkoti Huli (Tiger of Hulkoti) entering the fray for the Gadag seat.

Mr Patil, who entered the fray had fought to infuse the spirit of cooperation in the minds of not only the people of Gadag, but also other areas of undivided Dharwad district comprising Gadag, Haveri and Dharwad.Gadag district has always been a Congress fortress with strongman K H Patil elected four times followed by his close relative D R Patil winning the seat for another four terms.After the death of K H Patil, his son had never opted to be a member of the Legislative Assembly by facing a direct election.Instead, he contested from Graduate Constituency to easily enter theLegislative Council.

For three terms, Gadag constituency had sent Independent candidates to Karnataka Assembly. Despite this, the Patil family did not allow the constituency to be part of other political outfit.Even the political polarisation in the state from time-to-time did not deter the strength of Patil family. Attempts to change the mode of political status also proved futile.After the death of K H Patil, Gadag continued to remain in the strong hands of Congress as well as that of Patil family and was never a centre of attraction.