Lingayats step up pressure to have own representative in KPCC

BANGALORE: Accusing the Congress of doing injustice to the Lingayats in the state, the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha threatened to fight the party and the government.
In a letter to KPCC president G Parameshwara and chief minister Siddaramaiah, Mahasabha secretary KN Jayalingappa said, "The party doesn't seem to have learnt a lesson from the outcome of the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. If Veerashaivas are continued to neglected, the party has to pay a price and face the consequences.'' In the polls, the Congress won just nine seats while the BJP bagged 17 and JD(S) two.The apex body of the Lingayats accused the party and chief minister Siddaramaiah of appeasing the Ahinda (acronym for the minorities, backward classes and dalits) group.
The mahasabha is peeved because in the recently concluded polls to the Rajya Sabha and legislative council, the Congress didn't nominate anyone from the dominant caste. Two persons were elected to the RS and four to the council from the assembly.
With appointment to the KPCC and five nominations to the council pending, the move is being seen as a pressure tactic. In the council, one seat is vacant and four will fall vacant on June 20. They have to be filled by nominating eminent personalities from the field of cooperation, literature, arts, science and social service.
KPCC president G Parameshwara was nominated to the council and is most likely to become a minister. The Lingayats want a man from their community to head the party in the state. Besides, there are rumors that Shamanur Shivashankarappa could be dropped from the cabinet during the next reshuffle. The letter is also being seen as a pressure tactic to retain the minister.