Vokkaliga seers strongly back Shivakumar for CM

BENGALURU: With the race for the chief minister’s post hotting up in the Congress, several Vokkaliga seers visited Congress state president D K Shivakumar’s house on Sunday and extended support to him. The seers also held a meeting at the Adichunchanagiri Mutt at Vijayanagar in the city.

Nanjavadutha Swami said they should stand with Shivakumar just as they had backed H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy. “This time, our community has got a full five-year tenure to rule. Kumaraswamy, S M Krishna, Sadanada Gowda had brief tenures. Kumaraswamy was CM twice and did not impose any taxes on the people and waived farmers’ loans. Deve Gowda brought Cauvery water to Bengaluru, S M Krishna worked for the development of Bengaluru, Sadananda Gowda introduced Sakaala and took up the Yettinahole project”, he pointed out.

Earlier in the day, some seers had visited D K Shivakumar’s residence.

The seer Shivakumar had taken all MLAs along and contested the election. “If anyone had to bear the troubles that Shivakumar has borne, they would not be alive. Why should he not be given a chance? The newly-elected MLAs should be told that Shivakumar did everything to get them elected. He will deliver justice to the state”, he said.

Adichunchanagiri mutt seer Nirmalanandanatha Swami said Shivakumar had ensured that the Congress came to power this time. “As per tradition, the head of the house (party) should lead the state, this is our desire. Shivakumar fits the bill and we hope the Congress leaders consider his contributions. On his birthday tomorrow (May 15), let this too happen”, he said.

The Vokkaliga Sangha too has also come out strongly in support of Shivakumar. The Sangha said it is not making a demand, but a request and added that it will continue to press for it.

The Sunni Ulema Board has demanded Deputy CM post for one of the winning Muslim candidates.

Meanwhile the Kuruba community has demanded that Siddaramaiah should be made chief minister. The Kuruba Sangha claimed that at least 100 candidates won the election because of Siddaramaiah’s charisma and pointed out that he had launched various welfare schemes like Anna Bhagya and the Indira Canteens.

The Sunni Ulema Board has said that none from the Muslim community has been made chief minister and hence at least one of the nine winner should be made deputy CM and five of them should be given ministerial posts.