Bengaluru, Nov 28 (NationPress) In light of the ongoing leadership turmoil within the ruling Karnataka Congress party, various caste groups and spiritual leaders have publicly expressed their support for either Chief Minister Siddaramaiah or his Deputy and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar.

The Kuruba community, which Chief Minister Siddaramaiah represents, has issued a strong warning that should he be ousted from his position, they will not support the Congress party in the upcoming elections.

To address this, community leaders and seers convened a meeting at the Karnataka Pradesh Kuruba Sangha office in Bengaluru on Friday, advocating for Siddaramaiah to retain his role as Chief Minister and pledging their unwavering support.

During the gathering, Tinthani Math’s Siddaramanandapuri Swamiji remarked that a conference of directors and officials from all Kuruba associations statewide is being organized. He insisted, “The Congress high command should not allow confusion to take root in the state,” emphasizing the importance of a decisive stance.

The seer further stated, “It is inappropriate for someone in a religious position to publicly lobby for a political figure in Delhi. The high command must make informed decisions about Siddaramaiah, who is a respected leader. Undermining his dignity could have repercussions that extend beyond Karnataka.”

“This matter transcends the Kuruba community. Siddaramaiah holds a significant position as the leader of the AHINDA (minorities, backwards, and Dalits). Thus, the high command needs to act in a way that preserves this identity,” he highlighted.

“The internal issues within the party have not been handled correctly by the high command, leading to such circumstances. This creates difficulties for both the individual involved and the party. No religious leader should take a public stance on these issues—it is fundamentally wrong,” the seer expressed.

“Our support for Siddaramaiah is not solely based on his Kuruba background but on his advocacy for the underprivileged and marginalized,” he affirmed.

He went on to warn, “Siddaramaiah must not be removed from the Chief Minister's position under any circumstances. Should any of the 140 Congress MLAs oppose him, we will actively campaign against them to ensure their defeat.”

“Efforts are being made to elevate individuals with questionable pasts or corrupt backgrounds to the Chief Minister's position. We will initiate a statewide campaign urging a boycott of Congress. In the Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka regions, the populace voted for Congress primarily due to Siddaramaiah,” the seer asserted.

“A legislative party meeting should be convened to openly discuss these matters. The Karnataka Congress lacks mass leaders; Siddaramaiah is the only one with significant public support. D.K. Shivakumar does not possess that level of influence. If necessary, we may contemplate establishing a regional party, as has succeeded in states like Bihar,” he stated.

Meanwhile, notable Vokkaliga seer Nanjavadutha Swamiji met with Deputy CM Shivakumar at his home on Friday, expressing his backing for Shivakumar and advocating for his elevation to the Chief Minister's role, acknowledging his loyalty to the party and the Gandhi family.

The seer emphasized Shivakumar's unwavering commitment to the party and his efforts to strengthen it during challenging times.

“Shivakumar is a key figure within the Vokkaliga community. He has faced serious repercussions in his political journey for his steadfast loyalty to the Congress. Despite the party's reluctance to assign him organizing responsibilities during tough periods, he has tirelessly contributed. Following the leadership being entrusted to the AHINDA community, it is now crucial for the party to provide an opportunity to the Vokkaliga community,” the seer insisted.

He reiterated that support for Deputy CM Shivakumar is widespread across all societal segments, asserting that he should be granted the Chief Minister's position. Considering Siddaramaiah's age, a two-and-a-half-year term for him was deemed appropriate. It is time to resolve this situation and allow Deputy CM Shivakumar the chance to lead.