If there is a change in the leadership in Karnataka, then the new Chief Minister should belong to the Veerashaiva Lingayat community, said Sri Channa Siddharama Panditaradhya Shivacharya swami of Sri Saila on June 28.
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The Sri Saila jagadguru was speaking at a religious function organised in Yadur near Chikkodi in Belagavi district of Karnataka. This comes a day after Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt seer Chandrashekhara swami publicly requesting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to give up his post to Mr. Shivakumar.
“Veerashaiva Lingayats voted for the Congress in the last Assembly elections. It is natural that leaders of the community should become the Chief Minister. Leaders like M.B. Patil, Eshwar Khandre, S.S. Mallikarjun, or Shamanur Shivashankarappa should become the Chief Minister,” he said.
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‘High command should act’
Meanwhile, R.V. Deshpande, senior Congress MLA and chairman of the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission, said that there is no need to change the Chief Minister and the issue should be dealt with by the high command.
“There is a stable government and Mr. Siddharamaiah is doing well. He is leading the State efficiently. What is the need to change the Chief Minister now?’‘ he asked.
“There are bound to be some differences in politics. It does not mean that the Chief Minister needs to be changed. It is neither significant nor something to be discussed in public,” he said. “I will also request my party high command to take action against leaders who keep demanding appointment of more Deputy Chief Ministers or change of leadership.”