Rajat Ulladdimath Urges Lingayat Seers to Back OBC Candidate

Hubballi: Congress leader Rajat Ullagaddimath has appealed to Lingayat Mutt seers for their support towards Congress candidate Vinod Asooti, who hails from the OBC community. Ullagaddimath’s plea follows a recent outcry from Lingayat seers opposing the candidacy of current MP from Dharwad, Pralhad Joshi.

Led by Fakira Dingaleshwar Swamiji, the Lingayat seers have issued a deadline to the BJP leadership, demanding a change in Joshi’s constituency. They accuse the Union Minister of injustices against the Lingayat community and hold him responsible for the removal of Lingayat leader BS Yediyurappa from the CM’s post.

Ullagaddimath asserts that the Lingayat seers should throw their support behind the OBC candidate fielded by his party, highlighting the Congress’s history of providing opportunities to Lingayats and standing by the community.

He accuses the BJP of deliberately neglecting the Lingayat community and attempting to sideline its leaders. Ullagaddimath points to Joshi’s tactics, which he claims led to injustices against prominent Lingayat leaders such as the late CM Nimbannavar, MLA Vinay Kulkarni, former CM Jagadish Shettar, SI Chikkangoudar, and others.

In contrast, Ullagaddimath contends that the Congress has demonstrated its support for Lingayats by fielding three Lingayat candidates in the previous Assembly election and appointing Jagadish Shettar as an MLC, despite his electoral loss.

Ullagaddimath further reveals that the Congress is considering appointing a Lingayat to the MLC post vacated after Shettar’s resignation. He emphasizes that the Congress champions social justice and urges the Lingayat community to support Vinod Asuti and the Congress party.