Gala Kempegowda Jayanti to placate Vokkaligas?

Bengaluru: In what is being seen as a move to keep the Vokkaliga community in good stead, the state government has decided to organise Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations on June 22.

The decision was taken at the first meeting of the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Development Authority held here on Tuesday, which was chaired by CM  Siddaramaiah.

Briefing the media, Vokkaliga strongman and Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the Authority will work from Bengaluru. Its head office will be at Mayo Hall which also houses the Kempegowda Exhibition Centre.

To ensure a permanent building for Kempegowda Development Authority, the government has identified five acres of land at the Central Relief Centre situated on Magadi Road, which belongs to the social welfare department. The Kannada and culture department will place a request before the social welfare department to take over the land for the Authority.  It has  been decided to establish Kempegowda Study Centre to  promote research on Kempegowda.

The Authority has authorized Mr Shivakumar to conduct the second meeting. He has decided to contact experts and historians. After collecting all documents pertaining to Kempegowda, the Authority will prepare a blueprint for the developmental works, Mr Shivakumar said.

At the meeting, the government  decided to develop Kempegowda tomb at Kempapura village in Magadi, Mr Shivakumar said.