GULBARGAl: Former minister and Akhil Bharat Veerashiva Mahasabha central committee President Bhimanna Khandre who wields immense clout among the Lingayat community in Karnataka, especially in Bidar district, is facing a typical politician dilemma- on whether to back the Veerashaiva community or the Congress party.
Khandre used to be the minister in Veerappa Moily’s cabinet and only after retiring from active politics did he start engaging himself in the Veerashiva community activities.
He is the president of the central unit of Veerashiva Mahasabha since many years.
But his son Ishwar Khandre is Congress MLA from Bhalki. It is to be noted that when Bidar was declared a general constituency then the Lingayat community, which constitutes a chunk of the population, started lobbying in favour of Bhimanna.
However, Dharam Singh’s nomination dashed Bhimanna’s hopes.
Meanwhile a meeting of the Veerashiva Mahasabha was held in Bangalore on 8th April under the chairmanship of Akhil Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha and in the meeting several decisions including giving call to all Veerashaivas [Lingayats] to exercise their franchise compulsorily in favour of the community.
In the case of there being no candidate who belongs to the community, then the Lingayats should support the candidates who were friendly with Lingayat community were taken.
These ‘diktats’, however, had to be relaxed after Dharam Singh’s personal request to Bhimanna to support him.
The appeasement was apparent on April 15th during Sonia Gandhi’s visit to the constituency when he shared dais with the party bigwigs despite having no party responsibility.
It needs to be scene where Bhimanna’s heart lies. Devaraya Nadapally, vice-president of Central Unit of Veerashiva Mahasabha said here on Saturday that he would seek Bhimanna’s clarification on this matter.