Bengaluru:Noted Lingayat seer Dingaleshwar Swamiji of Balehosur has announced that he will contest as an independent candidate from Dharwad constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a press conference at the All India Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha, Dingaleshwar Swamiji said that people are saying all national parties are involved in election fixing, which is a betrayal of the electorate. "Two national parties have already announced their candidates. So this is a crusade taken up by the seers against the selfish politicians. This crusade is not limited to this election only but will continue," he said adding that he is entering politics in response to the hardships inflicted on common people.
"BJP has not given any ticket to Kuruba community. Reddy, Jangama, Lambani and hundreds have become victims of social neglect. All societies have suffered due to BJP. Eshwarappa was not given a ticket. His son worked in Haveri for one and a half years but was deprived. We do not need such national leaders. They did not give tickets to the people of the larger community but gave three tickets to the less populated castes. Where is social justice?" Swamiji asked.
Last time, nine MPs were elected from Veerashaiva Lingayat community. However, not one of them was given a Cabinet-rank ministerial position. Two percent people have been given two seats in the cabinet, while the Veerashaiva and other communities were betrayed, Swamiji alleged.
"They are keeping important portfolios like education to themselves and allotting animal husbandry and forestry to the Lambani community. They have the illusion that education is their personal asset while portfolio like animal husbandry is reserved for Dalits. Somanna was given a ticket in Tumkur instead of Bengaluru South. This has caused resentment among Lingayat leaders and Somanna," he added.
He alleged that effort is on to defeat the Lingayat community in Koppala, Davangere and Haveri. There are 99 sub-sects in Lingayat. Out of which, only 16 communities are in the central OBC list. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi did not support the attempt of inclusion of other sub-sects, he said adding that Joshi is a leader practising 'divide and rule' and is a zero in terms of undertaking development.
Swamiji further questioned what Joshi has done for Dharwad and Karnataka during his 20 years in power. "Enjoying power and wealth, he has taken 120 headmen to the party office inauguration, pretending that he has taken over the leadership of all the headmen. Mutts are being turned into political centres and the mutts, abbots, and society are being exploited. Voters are indispensable for a political party. BJP and Congress used Basavanna for votes but never followed his ideology and so both the parties have failed, Swamiji alleged.