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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Shivakumar camp seeks Vokkaliga–Panchamasali unity to bolster CM bid
Bengaluru: In an effort to get Congress' high command to honour a reported power-sharing pact and make DK Shivakumar chief minister in Nov, the deputy CM's loyalists are working on forging an alliance between Vokkaligas and Panchamasali Lingayats to expand his support base. Both communities, predominantly agrarian, have strongholds in south and north Karnataka respectively. The strategy, sources say, is to unite them under the shared theme of agriculture. With Panchamasalis accounting for about 60% of the Lingayat population, Shivakumar's camp believes that amassing them under the Vokkaliga functionary could help him gain acceptance in northern districts and secure pan-Karnataka popularity. Panchamasali politicians such as women and child development minister Laxmi Hebbalkar are counted among his loyalists. Shivakumar has also begun reaching out to Panchamasali mutt pontiffs, with plans to intensify outreach after the ongoing monsoon legislature session. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru The move is also aimed at the next assembly polls, with BJP seeking to cement its alliance with JD(S) under the joint leadership of HD Kumaraswamy (Vokkaliga) and BY Vijayendra (Lingayat). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This year's most comfortable shoes are a hit with the over-40 crowd Ultra-Comfortable Shoes Undo Such a combination could pose a serious challenge for Congress, unlike in the 2023 elections when both communities distanced themselves from BJP. "As KPCC president, everyone knows about Shivakumar's contribution to the party's victory in 2023," said Ravikumar Ganiga, Congress MLA from Mandya. "While it is the prerogative of the high command to decide on the CM post, we hope Shivakumar will get his due reward by becoming CM with the support of all communities and sections of society." C ommunity representatives see the unity drive as a necessity – even beyond political considerations – especially with the state govt announcing a new caste census for Sept–Oct. Both Vokkaligas and Lingayats opposed the previous enumeration by the H Kantharaju Commission, which CM Siddaramaiah has since scrapped. The cabinet has approved Rs 624 crore for the new survey, with formal notification expected soon. "After a long struggle we were able to convince the govt to abandon the Kantharaju report," said Vijayananda Kashappannavar, Panchamasali MLA and chairman of Veerashaiva-Lingayat Development Corporation. "Now, the task is to ensure justice for both communities in the new survey and that can be achieved with unity among Lingayats and Vokkaligas. Shivakumar is our party president and it is obvious that we look up to him. A decision on the CM's post will be taken at a proper time." The plan also seeks to bring in OBC groups other than Kurubas, and both Right and Left sects of Scheduled Castes, amid concerns over the new census and the Justice Nagamohan Das report on internal reservation for SCs. Meanwhile, talk of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge emerging as a consensus CM candidate, especially after the ouster of Siddaramaiah's aide KN Rajanna from the cabinet, has added to the churn. "It is natural that the rank and file want to see a veteran like Kharge at the helm. But, there is no conflict about the CM post as it is being made out. It is up to the high command to take a call," said Radhakrishnan Doddamani, Gulbarga MP and Kharge's son-in-law. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Happy Krishna Janmashtami Wishes ,, messages , and quotes !
Indian Express
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Personal attacks and resignation dare – a ploy to assert control over the Lingayat community in Karnataka's Vijayapura?
A long-standing rivalry between prominent Lingayat politicians of the Vijayapura region of Karnataka recently triggered a resignation dare. Last week, Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal made personal remarks and dared Congress Minister Shivanand Patil and MLA Vijayanand Kashappanavar to resign from their seats and contest elections against him as Independents. Yatnal made 'personal attacks' last week after a protest meeting was held to condemn his controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammed. Though he claimed that his statements were misinterpreted, Congress leaders, along with heads of different religious institutions in Vijayapura city, organised the protest last Monday to condemn his remarks. At the rally, Yatnal came under fire from Shivanand Patil and Kashappanavar. 'He does not respect any religion. He does not have faith in any religion…' Kashappanavar said. Two days later, Yatnal hit back, saying, 'I dare you to contest as Independents against me.' He accused Shivanand Patil's father of changing their family surname for political gain, and the minister of contesting elections from Basavana Bagewadi in the district to siphon money off the Krishna irrigation projects. 'With such people (Shivanand Patil and Kashappanavar), works of the dharma will not be carried out,' the firebrand MLA said. On Friday, Shivanand Patil, who handles Textiles, Sugarcane Development, and Agricultural Marketing portfolios, submitted his resignation as MLA to Speaker U T Khader. Fearing that Yatnal could go back on his word, the minister added a condition that his resignation be accepted only if the challenger did the same. The minister later told reporters that he had not made any personal remarks against Yatnal. 'I had criticised him for using derogatory terms against the Prophet. Due to this, he is making comments at a very personal level. I will contest against him in any constituency – Vijayapura city or Basavana Bagewadi,' he said. The resignation, however, was rejected by the Speaker. Yatnal did not resign. He said that it was 'foolish' of Shivanand Patil to demand his resignation before the Speaker accepted his. 'His resignation letter should only have two lines saying that he is resigning due to personal reasons,' former Union Minister Yatnal said. Meanwhile, Yatnal's constant attacks on BJP Parliamentary Board member B S Yediyurappa, and his son and BJP state president B Y Vijayendra, have recently earned him a six-year suspension from the primary membership of the BJP. His beef with Shivanand Patil and Kashappanavar, both leaders from the Panchamasali sect of the Lingayat community, is also seen by many as an attempt to assert his dominance over community leadership. Yatnal and Kashappanavar had earlier shared a forum demanding reservations for Panchamasalis under the 2A category, and they have used harsh words to attack each other more recently. There is speculation that the current feud was over control of cooperative banks and sugar factories in the Vijayapura district. Another curious development during the resignation saga was the absence of Industries Minister M B Patil, who also hails from Vijayapura. According to insiders, there were differences between M B Patil and Shivanand Patil over holding the protests on the same day when the All India Congress Committee had organised a demonstration against the Central government at Belagavi. 'M B Patil had to be present at Belagavi as national leaders were attending. He sent his brother and MLC Sunilgouda Patil in his stead,' a source said. However, this did not reportedly sit well with a section of the Congress leaders of the region, including Shivanand Patil. His absence is said to have resulted in a war of words between the two Patils of the Vijayapura district.
