There is another storm brewing in the BJP’s teacup. Prominent Veerashaiva Lingayat seer Fakira Dingaleshwar Swamiji is all set to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Karnataka’s Dharwad constituency, and is up against union minister and BJP candidate Pralhad Joshi. At the outset, it looks like just another poll contest, other than the fact that it could marginally hurt the saffron party’s electoral chances but significantly dent its image in the state.
Calling this election a “dharma yuddha”, the Lingayat seer, who is head of the Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Math, announced his decision to contest against Joshi. He not only accused the minister of neglecting the Lingayat community, but also insulting them.
Dingaleshwar Swamiji is a popular religious leader, who is known as a highly intellectual and extremely articulate leader with a large following. So, his decision to contest the polls comes at a time when the union minister is seeking re-election from the Dharwad seat for the fifth time.
The seer’s candidature as an independent will have a partial, if not major, impact on the BJP votes in the seat. “People feel that elections in the state have become like match-fixing,” alleged Dingaleshwar Swami, adding that he is contesting to provide justice to every community.
“Five years ago, when the 2019 elections took place, he approached me and sought my blessings. At that time as well, I had asked him if I was an instrument for him only during the elections? He (Joshi) asked me for one final chance and sought my forgiveness, which I did,” he said, targeting Joshi, who is the minister for parliamentary affairs as well as coal and mines.
Traditionally, Lingayats are known to back the BJP and this politically dominant community comprises nearly 17 to 18 per cent of Karnataka’s electorate. The community also dominates close to 100 out of the 224 assembly segments in the state.
In the recently held assembly election in Karnataka, the Lingayats switched sides to give the Congress a thumping victory – 135 out of 224 seats. The Dharwad constituency is also dominated by Lingayats, but Joshi, who is from the Brahmin community, has won here thrice in a row. If you look at the breakup, the Lok Sabha seat has at least 5.5 lakh Lingayats, 3.5 lakh Muslims, 2 lakh Kurubas and 2.7 lakh from the SC community.
“I have announced my decision to contest as an Independent from the Dharwad Lok Sabha seat based on many repeated requests by local leaders who feel cheated by the sitting MP,” the seer said.
‘Joshi ignored demands, pleas of Lingayats’
Dingaleshwar Swamiji told News18 how he had felt insulted by the leader and, despite repeated requests, Joshi had turned a blind eye to the demands or pleas of the Lingayats. Recalling the insult meted out to him, he said: “Three years ago, I had approached him for some help on a matter. Let alone help, in turn, he asked me why I did not approach a Lingayat leader. Is this the way to insult the community? Joshi should remember that people from different communities have voted him to power.”
He further alleged that the four-time MP was elected as a custodian of the people of the region, but has miserably failed to keep up with the promises he made. “From talukas to state leaders, he has hurt people. Every politician has faced hurt by him, every community in Karnataka has faced some form of hurt or humiliation by him. I have been hearing about such grievances from people and have even told him about it. He would ask my forgiveness and say he would work better the next time. There was never a next time,” he added.
In Shimoga, in a tirade against ‘pariwarvaad’, senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa also announced his decision to contest as an Independent. He will be up against his party’s candidate and son of former chief minister BS Yediyurappa. Dingaleshwar Swamiji said Joshi had played a major role in Eshwarappa’s son being denied a ticket in the 2023 assembly election, and now the Lok Sabha polls.
“I had warned Eshwarappa and his son not to trust Pralhad Joshi. Told him (Eshwarappa) not to back down when the ticket was denied and that there were many power centres at play to ensure the denial of the ticket. Now you see what happened in reality,” he said.
Dingaleshwar Swamiji further alleged that both the BJP and Congress have neglected the Lingayat community and, so, this has forced Veerashaiva leaders like him to enter the electoral fray to bring about justice for their community.
Importance of religious mutts in Karnataka’s politics
On March 27, a group of seers from Dharwad had met under his leadership to urge the BJP to change Joshi’s candidature for the Dharwad seat. They had set a deadline of March 31, but after there was no move from Delhi, the mutt leader decided to field himself as a candidate.
Joshi preferred not to say anything about the seer’s comments or the decision to contest against him. “I have no reaction to Dingaleshwar Swami… whatever he says, I will consider them as blessings for me,” he said.
In Karnataka, the outcome of the elections can often hinge on the approval or disapproval of the leaders of religious institutions known as mutts. These are important religious establishments, prevalent across the state and represented by different castes and communities including Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Kurubas, Valmikis, Nayakas, and Madigas.
The mutts are a spiritual centre, which are also deeply entrenched in providing education and rehabilitation of the underprivileged in society. While some of these places refrain from being directly involved in politics, mutt heads are often known to advise their followers to vote for any party of their choice while others openly advocate support for specific political parties or community leaders. The Lingayats alone have over a thousand mutts in Karnataka.
The Congress, meanwhile, has fielded a Kuruba leader, Vinod Asuti, from the seat. Karnataka will vote in two phases, and Dharwad will go to polls on May 7.
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