The new claim about Karnataka CM’s post has erupted with All India Veershaiva Mahasabha bidding for the top post amidst 'DK Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah' conundrum for Congress, reported NDTV.
The report said All India Veershaiva Mahasabha, which represents the influential Lingayat community, has bid for the top post, citing that 34 of the newly elected Congress MLAs are Lingayats.
“The swing of the Lingayat vote, once a key support base of the BJP, has been identified as a key factor in the Congress win this time,” it said.
“Another claim has come in from the Dalit community. Supporters of veteran Congress leader G Parameshwara held a demonstration, demanding that the Dalit leader be chosen for the Chief Minister post. At the gathering in Tumkur, placards reading ‘a Dalit should be CM’ were waved,” it said.
In a letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha has said that the Congress had fielded 46 candidates from the community and 34 of them won, it mentioned.
“The organisation has key Lingayat leaders among its members. Its president is 91-year-old Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, Karnataka's oldest MLA who won from Davangere South this time,” it said.
"Further more, we wish to bring to your kind notice that our community has played a major role in electing other smaller communities in other 50 constituencies. This shows that the traditional voters of the BJP has shifted its loyalty to Congress party, thereby supporting the Congress party to win 134 constituencies in the state," the report quoted the letter as having said.
“The community, which accounts for 17 per cent of Karnataka's population, can potentially swing outcomes in nearly 100 seats. It is the community's electoral significance that saw all parties vie for its support and promote Lingayat leaders in the run-up to the polls,” it mentioned.
The organisation has further suggested that it is important that the Congress retains the support of the community for the general election due next year, it said.
"Considering the above facts, we now urge the Congress party to give a chance/consider (a) Veerashaiva Lingayat community leader for the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka state," the report quoted the letter.
The organisation has also requested the Congress chief to ensure a number of cabinet berths for the community "which is proportionate to the number of MLAs of our community", it said.
The demand for the Chief Minister post, however, seems more like a pressure building tactic as the two tallest Congress leaders in Karnataka are in running for the job and no third name has been come up in discussions so far, it said.
Once a key support base of the BJP, the Lingayats backed the Congress this time, results in the seats dominated by the community have indicated, it said.
