Now Vokkaligara Sangha wades into Karnataka power tussle row, seeks CM post for DK Shivakumar

'The community supported Congress during the (2023) Assembly elections only because Shivakumar stood a chance to become the CM. If he is cheated, then we’ll teach a big lesson to Congress', president L Srinivas said.

Bengaluru: The Vokkaligara Sangha on Thursday warned Congress of electoral ramifications if Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is not made the chief minister.

This comes a day after top Vokkaliga pontiff Nirmalanandanatha Swami publicly backed Shivakumar’s chief ministerial ambition and asked the Congress high command to make him the CM.

“The community supported Congress during the (2023) Assembly elections only because Shivakumar stood a chance to become the CM. If he is cheated, then we’ll teach a big lesson to Congress,” newly-elected Vokkaligara Sangha president L Srinivas told a news conference.

Srinivas, a former Bengaluru deputy mayor, said Vokkaligas would launch a protest under the guidance of community leaders.

Vokkaligara Sangha general-secretary CG Gangadhar pointed out that Congress won more seats in the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysuru region because of Shivakumar. “If Congress wants to retain power, then Shivakumar should be made the CM,” he said.

Outgoing Vokkaligara Sangha president Kenchappa Gowda said Shivakumar’s efforts in bringing Congress to power cannot be ignored.

"During elections, Shivakumar pleaded before people for a pen and paper. Our community strongly stood with him and voted for Congress thinking he will become the CM. But, the party made Siddaramaiah the CM. As a senior leader, Siddaramaiah, too, has worked for the party and we’re happy about him. But Shivakumar should be given a chance,” Gowda said.

Former Vokkaligara Sangha general-secretary Konappa Reddy urged top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to look at Shivakumar’s service and loyalty to their party. “Congress is known to keep its promises. We hope it won’t break the promise made to Shivakumar,” he said.