Vokkaliga seer backs Shivakumar; Siddaramaiah’s loyalists conduct temple ritual

Bengaluru/Kalaburagi: Chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar continued to draw support Friday, even as both awaited a call from the Congress high command for a crucial meeting to resolve the leadership issue in the state.A day after Adichunchanagiri Mutt's Nirmalananda Swami visited Shivakumar, another prominent Vokkaliga seer, Brahmeshwara Mutt pontiff Gurugunda Nanjavadutha Swami, called on the deputy CM and publicly backed him for the top post."Shivakumar is a prominent leader of the community, and his contributions to the party will never be forgotten… He remained loyal to the Sonia and Rahul Gandhi family," Nanjavadutha Swami said. He added that while Siddaramaiah led the party to victory with the support of multiple communities, it was now time for Vokkaligas to be given an opportunity. "We request that the person who is acceptable to all communities should be given the CM's post," he said.The seer noted, "All sections of society are supporting Shivakumar. Let's first resolve the issue there and give Shivakumar an opportunity."In Kalaburagi, Siddaramaiah's supporters performed a 101 coconut-breaking ritual at the Sri Sharanbasaveshwara temple, praying for him to complete a full term. "Our real father Siddaramaiah sahebra is there," a Shakti Yojana (free-travel scheme) beneficiary said, expressing hope that more welfare programmes would follow if he remained chief minister.Senior Congress MLC BK Hariprasad, after meeting food minister KH Muniyappa, said party decisions would reflect the aspirations of workers and the public. He cautioned leaders against indiscipline, saying, "We will not take instructions from Nagpur… No one can claim that they singlehandedly brought the party to power." He sought an early intervention by the high command.Muniyappa said the high command should convene talks with both leaders. "We should plan to win the 2028 assembly election," he said. Minister Priyank Kharge asked the media to avoid speculation and said the leadership would step in when required.BJP plans no-trust voteMeanwhile, BJP has announced plans to move a no-confidence motion against the govt in the winter session, though it clarified it would not seek to form govt even if the Congress faced an internal strain. The Congress has a clear majority in the 224-member assembly.The state govt is also preparing to introduce the Rohit Vemula Bill in the Dec session, proposing strict penalties for discrimination or atrocities against SC/ST students on educational campuses.

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