After the defeat in five states, the Congress seems to be concentrating on next year’s elections in Karnataka. Former party president Rahul Gandhi reached Shri Siddaganga Math on Thursday. Rahul’s visit is being seen as a step towards wooing the Lingayat community. The special thing is that in recent times, the Lingayat community has strongly supported the Bharatiya Janata Party and former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa.
Rahul, who reached the Math on the 115th birth anniversary of Sri Sri Shivakumara Swamiji, said, ‘The 12th century social reformer Basavanna has taught us that we are one, we have to live together irrespective of caste, religion and remove hatred.’ He said, ‘The brotherhood that you teach here is necessary for the entire country today.’ The Congress leader told that his grandmother, father and mother have also come to the Math.
Congress’s attack against Modi government against rising inflation, Rahul Gandhi took charge
The special thing is that the history of Sri Siddaganga Math is 600 years old and it is one of the most sacred monasteries for the Lingayat community. The presence of former prime ministers and presidents has been seen here in the past as well. The special thing is that the blessings received from this monastery are also considered very important for access to political parties and their leaders. Most of the leaders reach here before the elections.
Even though monasteries are traditionally known for social and religious functions, those who know their work show that some of them have increased political activism.
Rahul garlanded flowers on a cylinder-bike, worship also took place; Congress on the road against rising prices of petrol-diesel-LPG
Congress and Lingayat
Barely three months before the 2018 assembly elections, the then Siddaramaiah government had given separate religion status to the community. Then the Congress had failed to garner the support of the Lingayat community. Lingayats are believed to make up 15 per cent of the total population. During that time this decision of the Congress was shown by the BJP as an attempt to break the ‘Hindu voter base’.
At the same time, Congress had to pay the price for the decision to keep ‘Veershaiva’ by losing seats. In 2018, the Congress seats had gone up to 79. Whereas, in 2013 this figure was at 123. Due to this the party had to form a short-lived government with the Janata Dal (Secular). The special thing is that both the BJP and Congress parties know that the Lingayat community can play a big role in elections in many areas of the state.