Eshwarappa’s Son Didn’t Get Ticket Because of Joshi: Dingaleshwar Swamiji

Bengaluru: Fakira Dingaleshwar Swamiji of Shirahatti’s Bhavaikya Math has stated that Union Minister Pralhad Joshi not only committed injustice against the Lingayat community but also other communities.

Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Swamiji lashed out at BJP Dharwad Lok Sabha candidate Pralhad Joshi, alleging that he unjustly treated the Lingayat community and undermined its leaders. Furthermore, Swamiji asserted that Joshi’s actions extended beyond the Lingayat community to affect others as well.

He recounted a meeting with former minister KS Eshwarappa a few months ago, during which he warned Eshwarappa about Joshi’s character and cautioned him not to trust him easily. Swamiji emphasized that he had forewarned Eshwarappa that if his son KE Kantesh missed the ticket, it would be due to Joshi’s influence. “I conveyed this message to the leader at that time,” he added.

Responding to Eshwarappa’s allegations that Yediyurappa was responsible for KE Kantesh missing the ticket, Dingaleshwar Swamiji stated that he was not aware of such claims. However, he reiterated his earlier caution to Eshwarappa about Joshi’s potential for betrayal and advised him not to trust Joshi’s intentions.

Swamiji also criticized the BJP for allegedly neglecting the Kuruba and other communities, while favoring three Brahmin candidates for tickets despite their community having fewer voters. He questioned the party’s commitment to social justice, particularly noting the absence of Lingayat candidates in ministerial positions despite nine Lingayat candidates winning from the BJP in the previous election.

Accusing Joshi of preventing other leaders from approaching Prime Minister Modi and hindering the growth of their influence in the central government, Swamiji cited the example of Shivakumar Udasi, who despite being well-educated and multilingual, faced neglect from BJP leaders and did not get a word from the leaders when he announced his retirement from politics.

Swamiji clarified that his decision to contest the Lok Sabha election from Dharwad was in response to demands from voters and asserted that he had neither met with any leaders nor sought a ticket for the election.