In a missive addressed to Karnataka Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, president of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, urged the party to consider fielding candidates from the Veerashaiva Lingayat community for the impending Rajya Sabha elections.
Expressing his discontent over the perceived neglect of the community at both state and national levels despite its unwavering support for the Congress, Shivashankarappa advocated for the allocation of Rajya Sabha seats to Lingayats. He asserted that with the capacity to secure three members in the Upper House, the Congress should prioritize the representation of Lingayats.
Moreover, he urged Kharge to accord precedence to the community's interests when deliberating on the party's nominees for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
However, responding to Shivashankarappa's plea, Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad characterized the senior leader as an elderly figure who should contemplate retirement from active political engagement.
"Shamanur (Shivashankarappa) has become an old man. He must retire and rest. At this age, what do we expect from Shamanur and how do I rebut? I don't want to hurt an old man, but he must retire from politics," remarked Rizwan Arshad.
Arshad further suggested that Shivashankarappa should allow his son, a cabinet minister, to assume the mantle of leadership and carry out political responsibilities.
The impending Rajya Sabha elections, slated for February 27, are poised to fill 56 seats across 15 states, with the deadline for filing nomination papers set for February 15.
The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, comprising approximately 87 sub-castes, holds considerable sway in Karnataka's political landscape. In recent electoral contests, the Lingayat vote emerged as a pivotal determinant, particularly in the Congress' victory in the state Assembly polls last year, marking a notable departure from past trends.
