Vokkaliga seer Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji said it was both his personal view and the sentiment within the community that DK Shivakumar should become the next chief minister of Karnataka. The pontiff of the Adichunchunagiri Math expressed confidence that the Congress high command would take an appropriate decision, citing Shivakumar’s loyalty and long service to the party.
Shivakumar is a key leader of the Vokkaliga community, which has a strong presence in the Old Mysuru region.
“I am watching and reading in the media about the developments in the government. The Math is a centre of faith for the Vokkaliga community and has been a voice for other communities as well. On the CM issue, Shivakumar has not spoken to me yet,” the seer told reporters.
“In the 2023 Assembly polls, people from the community voted, hoping one among us would become CM. It didn’t happen then. There was hope it would happen after 2.5 years, but that too now seems unlikely. If it doesn’t happen, it will sadden thousands of devotees of the Math,” he said.
Calling the current “confusion” over leadership unhealthy for the state, the seer said it was the Congress high command’s responsibility to provide clarity.
“Shivakumar should become the CM after 2.5 years—this is both my opinion and that of the devotees,” he said.
(PTI)
