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BJP President Amit Shah, who is touring poll-bound Karnataka, on Monday launched an aggressive campaign to woo the influential Lingayat community.
Shah kicked off his two-day tour of the State with a massive rally in Shivamogga town, which is considered a stronghold of the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate and State president BS Yeddyurappa.
Shah’s visit comes after the Congress government in the State recommended to the Centre that Lingayat community be accorded status of a minority religion.
Securing votes?
Shah’s visit is perceived as an attempt to prevent the division of votes of the Lingayats, who are seen as the party’s faithful. He visited Siddaganga Mutt in Tumakuru, considered holy by the Lingayats.
“Today, I had the good fortune to seek blessings from the ‘Walking God’, Sri Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddhaganga Mutt, Tumakuru.”
On day two, Shah is likely to visit other prominent Lingayats mutts in central Karnataka: Sirigere and Murugha in Chitradurga.
The Siddaganga Mutt was among the first to welcome the Siddaramaiah government’s decision to accord minority status to Lingayats. The Murugha seer has been at the forefront of the movement demanding a separate Lingayat tag. Shivakumara Swamy of the Siddaganga Mutt and the Sirigere seer are yet to take a stand over the issue.
Dalit, farmer outreach
Shah is also likely to visit Madara Chennaiah Swami, a Dalit seer who is said to be interested in contesting on a BJP ticket.
Shah also held talks with farmers.
The BJP leader addressed conventions of coconut growers in Tiptur (Tumkur) and arecanut growers in Thirthahalli (Shivamoga).
“MSP of coconut has increased by 40 per cent over the last four years. Recently, a decision has been taken to fix MSP at 1.5 times of production cost, but the anti-farmer Siddaramaiah govt is not purchasing coconuts at the desired MSP.”
Addressing areca farmers in Thirthahalli in Shivamoga, Shah said: “Once a BJP forms government under the leadership of Yeddyurappa, we will set up a research and development centre for arecanut (supari) in Shivamogga with an investment of ₹500 crore.”
Jibe at Siddaramaiah
Taking a dig at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the BJP President said: “(Jnanpith awardee) Kuvempu had praised Karnataka as ‘Sarva Janangada Shantiya Thota’, or the garden where all communities live in harmony. For petty political gains, Siddaramaiah has tried to create disharmony by pitting one community against the other. This is reprehensible and he will pay for this.”
Shah also visited the birthplace of ‘Rashtrakavi’ Kuvempu (KV Puttappa) and said: “Today I visited Kavishaila, the home of great nature poet, Rahstrakavi, Jnanpith awardee Shri Kuvempu and experienced the serenity of Malenadu-Western Ghats and enjoyed the Kannada atmosphere.”
He further said: “My pranams to the great poet who gave us the Naadageethe and Raitageethe. The poetry of Shri Kuvempu, who grew in the midst of the Malenadu forests, is a symbol of our great literary heritage. Baarisu Kannada Dimdimava, O Karnataka Hrudaya Shiva!”
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