BIDAR: After the exit of three senior Lingayat leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP), Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said that the incumbent BJP government had rendered justice to all communities including Lingayats.
This comes after three senior leaders — Jagadish Shettar, Laxman Savadi and Ayanur Manjunath — left the BJP after they were denied tickets by the party and joined the Congress ahead of the elections.
Talking to reporters in Bhalki of Bidar district, he said, “The BJP government has rendered justice to all the communities, including Lingayats, and ensured recognition to all of them. The Congress government tried to break the Lingayat religion”.
“No Lingayat leader of Congress has been made chief minister of Karnataka in the last 50 years, except S Nijalingappa. Everybody knows how badly Veerendra Patil was dealt with by the Congress leaders,” he added.
Hitting out at the Congress, Bommai said, “The Congress party is shedding crocodile tears. The disintegration of society was because of them. Everyone knows which party has given leadership to whom. We haven’t done any damage to society. When there is no damage from our side, what is there to control?”
On Wednesday, Ayanur Manjunath, a former BJP MLC and a prominent Lingayat face, resigned from the BJP over the denial of ticket from Shivamogga constituency and joined the JD(S). Manjunath said that his first preference was the BJP followed by Congress and JD(S) for contesting the elections.
Thursday was the last date for filing of nominations, and the last day to withdraw nominations is April 24. The Assembly polls will be held on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. (ANI)