Election to 135-year-old Vidyavardhak Sangha gains political colour

The Hindu

24-05-2025

As the 135-year-old Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha, a representative body of Kannada and Kannadigas based in Dharwad, is set to choose a new body for three years (2025-2028) on on Sunday, May 25, for the first time, the contest will see candidates affiliated to two national parties fighting as two groups, although both claim that there is 'nothing political' about it.
The election is being held for the posts of president, vice-president, chairman, general secretary, treasurer, and joint secretary, and nine seats in the executive committee on Sunday, May 25.
After the demise of veteran journalist Patil Puttappa (March 2020), who held the president's post for a record 48 years, former MLA and BJP leader Chandrakanth Bellad had occupied the post and now he is contesting again with his team.
Three factions
When Patil Puttappa (Papu) was the president, there used to be two factions during the election, one 'with Papu' and the one 'against Papu'. After his demise, when the elections were held in 2021, a third faction emerged, and this time again, there is a loose third faction comprising of individuals who are opposed to the two groups.
Although Papu was nominated to the Rajya Sabha and Mr. Bellad was a former MLA of the BJP, the elections so far had not gained a distinctly political colour. However, the entry of former MLC Mohan Limbikai and JD(S) leader Gururaj Hunasimarad has given a political colour to the election. BJP MLA Arvind Bellad's followers, too, are likely to be involved in the polls as his father is seeking a re-election.
Some existing office-bearers have identified themselves with the presidential post aspirant Mr. Limbikai, who is now with the Congress and heads the 'Patil Puttappa Gumpu'. Sharanappa Kotagi, another Congress leader and younger brother of former Chairman of Karnataka Legislative Council Viranna Mattiakatti, is with him and is in the poll fray. Mr. Limbikai at one point asked what was wrong with politicians contesting the election, as 'Papu' was also a former Rajya Sabha member, but sought to argue later that there was 'nothing political' about their contest.
Mr. Hunasimarad, who had filed nomination papers for the president's post, subsequently withdrew from the contest, reportedly in favour of writers and artists who are not contesting as a group. Mr. Hunasimarad, who had said earlier that he intended to merely oppose politicians entering the fray, has now become neutral.
It seems to be a close contest between the incumbent president and Mr. Limbikai, and historian Hanumakshi Gogi is contesting as independent.
Incumbent general secretary Shankar Halgatthi is being challenged by advocate Prakash Udakeri, a member of the Patil Puttappa faction, and the post of working president will see a direct contest between advocate Basavaprabhu Hosakeri and journalist Manojkumar Gouda Patil. There is a triangular contest for the vice-president's post, for which Sanjeev Kulkarni, Sharanappa Kotagi, and D.M. Hiremath are in the fray. Twenty-eight candidates are in the fray for the seven-member executive committee.
Critical voices
These developments have led to criticism from different quarters. Already, the likes of former Mayor Iresh Anchatageri, advocate K.S. Korishettar, and others have objected to 'politicisation' of the sangha's election. Many feel that the sangha, which always stood for linguistic and regional identity, has been slowly losing its relevance in recent years as its activities are now mostly limited organising endowment lectures and cultural events.
'Under Puttappa, the sangha used to take a bold stand against any 'anti-Kannada' policy of the ruling disposition, but it is not the case now,' said a senior member. Despite claims by politicians that their contest in the sangha's election has nothing to do with politics, the development has certainly made several men of letters, artists of repute, and Kannada activists shy away from the contest.