Bengaluru, Nov 28 (LatestNewsX) – With the Karnataka Congress grappling with a leadership crisis, local caste organisations and religious figures have openly declared whose side they’ll take – either Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or his deputy and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar.
The Kuruba community, Siddaramaiah’s own group, has warned that if the chief minister is removed, they will cast their votes against the Congress in the next election. To rally behind Siddaramaiah, community leaders and seers met on Friday at the Karnataka Pradesh Kuruba Sangha office in Bengaluru. They demanded that the CM remain in office and pledged unreserved support.
Siddaramanandapuri Swamiji of Tinthani Math addressed the gathering, saying a statewide meeting of Kuruba association heads is underway. “The Congress high‑command must avert any confusion in the state,” he said.
The seer criticized a pontiff who had publicly spoken about an individual and lobbied in Delhi, deeming it unfit. He urged the high‑command to make a clear decision in favour of Siddaramaiah, a dignified leader whose reputation should not be undermined. “If his honour is compromised, the fallout will ripple across Karnataka and the nation,” he added.
He highlighted that this issue transcends the Kuruba community. Siddaramaiah is recognised as the face of the AHINDA groups—minorities, backward sections and Dalits—so the high‑command should act in a way that preserves this identity.
The seer argued that internal party mismanagement has triggered such issues, harming both individuals and the party. “It’s wrong for any community leader to take a stand on such matters,” he remarked. “Our support for Siddaramaiah stems not from his Kuruba heritage but from his advocacy for the poor and downtrodden.”
He further warned that the chief minister should never be removed for any reason. “If any of the 140 Congress MLAs turn against Siddaramaiah, we will rally against them and guarantee their defeat,” he asserted.
“They’re trying to install a CM who has spent time in jail or is corrupt. We will spearhead a statewide campaign to boycott the Congress. In Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka, voters chose Congress only because of Siddaramaiah,” the seer said.
The seer called for an open legislative party meeting to gather diverse opinions. He noted the need for a regional faction within the state. “Siddaramaiah is the only mass leader in Karnataka’s Congress; there isn’t even a comparable figure in D.K. Shivakumar’s ranks,” he said. “If needed, a new regional party could be formed. Regional parties have already succeeded in states like Bihar.”
Meanwhile, a prominent Vokkaliga seer, Nanjavadutha Swamiji, met Deputy CM Shivakumar at his home on Friday. He expressed full backing for Shivakumar and urged that he be appointed chief minister, citing Shivakumar’s unwavering loyalty to the party and the Gandhi family over the years.
The seer emphasised Shivakumar’s deep commitment to the party, noting that he has stood by the organisation during crises despite receiving little responsibility. “Shivakumar is a leading Vokkaliga figure who has endured significant setbacks for sticking with Congress,” he said. “While the leadership has shifted to the AHINDA community, now is the time for Congress to give a chance to the Vokkaligas.”
He added that all strata of society support Deputy CM Shivakumar and that he deserves the chief‑ministership. Given Siddaramaiah’s age, the seer suggested a two‑and‑a‑half‑year term, emphasising the need to settle the issue promptly and elevate Shivakumar to the top post.
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