Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with seers at Sri Murugarajendra Mutt in Chitradurga in Karnataka.
Chitradurga:
A seer at a Lingayat seminar in Karnataka said today that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will become prime minister until the chief seer steps in and adds a caveat to the blessing.
Mr Gandhi was at a meeting with the seers of Sri Murugarajendra Mutt in Chitradurga when one of them, Haveri Hosamutt Swami, referred to his grandmother and father – who both remained prime ministers – and said: “Indira Gandhiji was prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi Prime Minister, and now Rahul Gandhi has been initiated into the Lingayat sect and he will become Prime Minister.”
Sri Shivamurthy then interrupted Murugha Sharanaru, President of the institution, adding: “Please don’t say that… This is not the platform.
Previously, the chief seer Rahul Gandhi had solemnly initiated the sect.
It is an absolute honor to visit Sri Jagadguru Murugharajendra Vidyapeetha and read the Ishtalinga Deekshe by Dr. To receive Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru.
Guru Basavanna’s teachings are eternal and I am honored to learn more about them from the Sharanaru of Mathematics. pic.twitter.com/5Dgj53roSp
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 3, 2022
The Lingayats, about 17 percent of the population of Karnataka, are traditionally BJP voters. With Mr Gandhi’s visit to the election-bound state, Congress is hoping to broaden its appeal.
With elections coming up by May next year, Congress is struggling to put together a united front to unseat the BJP.
Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar at Sri Murugarajendra Mutt in Chitradurga.
After being in power from 2013 to 2018, Congress briefly formed a government in partnership with the Janata Dal (secular) following the 2018 election. That government — led by JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy — collapsed in just over a year after several MLAs resigned from the coalition, reducing it to a minority, after which the BJP returned to rule the state.
The BJP initially appointed BS Yediyurappa from the Lingayat community as Chief Minister. Last year he was replaced by Basavaraj Bommai, also from the same community.
Congress is struggling with an internal rift. Legislative party leader Siddaramaiah and head of state unit DK Shivakumar are both contenders for the post of CM if the party comes to power.
Rahul Gandhi attempted to raise the matter at a meeting of the State Unity Political Affairs Committee on Tuesday night, where he urged leaders to work together and not speak out publicly, according to PTI news agency.
The party’s general secretary, KC Venugopal, later told reporters, “There is no leadership problem at all. Individual opinions are also not acceptable. The party’s new MLAs and high command will decide the leader after victory.”
“The committee will meet frequently and make joint decisions in the interests of the party. Rahul Gandhi called on the party leaders to act aggressively and united against the BJP’s mismanagement in Karnataka and in the center,” he said. adding that it was decided unanimously not to speak about internal affairs in public. “Unknowingly or knowingly, some statements are made here and there in front of the media. Don’t fall for that trap…Party leaders shouldn’t speak with different voices inside and outside,” he said.
It was the committee’s first meeting since its inception on July 9. In addition to Mr Gandhi and Mr Venugopal, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were present, along with MB Patil, the head of the party’s campaign committee, opposition leaders in the Legislative Council BK Hariprasad, and senior officials such as HK Patil, Dinesh Gundu Rao, M Veerappa Moily and G Parameshwara.
Apr 9, 2022