Koppal: Opposition BJP leaders have demanded the resignation of Minor Irrigation Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi in connection with the murder of Yallalinga Kuruba, a student from Kanakaapura village in Kanakagiri assembly constituency represented by Mr Tangadagi. This is apparently aimed at putting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in a fix and weaken his image among his own community of Kurubas.
BJP leaders have launched a fortnight longcampaign called “Tangadagi hatao, Koppal district bacchao” from June 15 to 29 and senior leaders including state president Mr Pralhad Joshi, former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa, K.S. Eshwarappa and others are arriving to lead the campaign.
Political circles are abuzz with reports that BJP leaders want to dampen the image of Mr Siddaramaiah in his own community by claiming that he failed to protect the interest of his community as the slain youth belongs to Kuruba community and another youth attacked by the assailants belongs to Madiga community.
Reliable sources said Lingayat and Dalit leaders in the Congress who are not on good terms with the CM are indirectly supporting the BJP leaders to defame the Siddaramaiah government.
Sources said a Lingayat Congress legislator from Koppal who was once with Janata Dal is an aspirant for minister’s post in the next cabinet reshuffle and wants to oust Mr Tangadagi. However, Mr Siddaramaiah is said to be reluctant to induct him as he allegedly worked against him when he contested Koppal Lok Sabha election in 1989.
Yellalinga Kuruba, a PU student was brutally murdered, because he exposed the large-scale lapses in implementation of NREG works in Hulihyder Gram Panchayat under Kanakagiri. On January 11, his body was found on railway tracks on the outskirts of Koppal. On May 15. The police had arrested Mahantesh Nayak, son of Congress leader Hanumesh Nayak, Manoj and Durugappa, associates of Hanumesh.
