Bangalore. Amid the ongoing power struggle within the ruling Congress, a Mahant belonging to the Vokkaliga community has publicly urged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to step down and hand over power to the state’s Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
This appeal of Mahant has come at a time when the demand for appointing three more deputy chief ministers in the Siddaramaiah cabinet is growing.
There is a demand that one Deputy Chief Minister be made from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe and minority communities. Mahant Kumar Chandrashekharnath Swamiji of Vishwa Vokkaliga Mahasamastan Math raised his voice in favor of Shivakumar in the presence of Siddaramaiah and the Deputy Chief Minister at an event organized on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Bengaluru founder Kempegowda.
Karnataka Congress president and state Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar belongs to the Vokkaliga community. This community is a major community in the southern parts of the state.
Chandrasekharnath Swamiji said, “Everyone has become the Chief Minister in the state and everyone has enjoyed the power, but our DK Shivakumar has not become the Chief Minister yet, so the request is that Siddaramaiah please hand over the power to our DK Shivakumar and bless him.” Addressing the gathering, he said, “It is possible only if Siddaramaiah makes up his mind, otherwise not, so with ‘namaskar’ I request Siddaramaiah to make DK Shivakumar the Chief Minister.”
Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah, when asked about Mahant’s appeal, said, “There is a high command in the Congress and whatever the high command says, we will follow it.” Shivakumar said: “Things have been said…both of us (he and Siddaramaiah) are going to New Delhi to discuss with the state’s MPs about the state’s projects (pending approval from the Centre).” Shivakumar said, “What Swamiji has said cannot be taken seriously. In politics, people speak in praise, but we will follow the party’s decision.” Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna, considered close to Siddaramaiah, said, “Who will leave the post, just because he (Mahant) said, can it be left, let Mahant leave his post, I will become Swamiji. Ask if he will leave the post. No one will leave the post…I don’t know with what intention Mahant has said these things, in a democracy he has the right to speak.”
Home Minister G Parameshwara said Mahant may have shared his personal opinion but it has nothing to do with the chief minister’s post as the chief minister is elected after a process involving the political party and its MLAs. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashoka said the development proves that there are differences within the government and also proves the Bharatiya Janata Party’s claim that this government will not last long.