Karnataka: Now, Lingayat MLAs up the ante

BENGALURU: A day after veteran Congress leader, M. Mallikarjuna Kharge, showed his inclination to return to state politics, a group of 18 to 20 Lingayat legislators of the ruling party decided to meet in Bengaluru in a day or two on the pretext of discussing developmental issues, but evidently to discuss their neglect by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his cabinet colleagues.

These legislators also see the need to head to New Delhi, meet senior central leaders of the party, and complain about their “gross” neglect. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader said, “Due to excessive emphasis on AHINDA, we (leaders of Lingayat community) feel that we have been grossly neglected.” The leader said ministers or Mr Siddaramaiah himself were not taking them into confidence.

“There are 28 Lingayat legislators in the Congress party, which is equivalent of 22.60 per cent of 124 ruling party members or 1/5th of the total strength of the ruling party. But, most Lingayat MLAs are neither consulted on important affairs in the government nor does the Chief Minister give any special attention when we approach him over developmental issues.

“Therefore, we have decided to form a separate bloc within the party to assert our position,” the leader added.

According to the leader, the legislators would deliberate on fair representation for Lingayats in the state cabinet. “Before meeting any of our leaders, we need to deliberate many things and cut out irrelevant issues from agenda so that we could arrive at a consensus before briefing them accurately,” the leader added.