BENGALURU/HUBBALLI: An influential Lingayat seer on Monday threw his hat in the ring against Union minister Pralhad Joshi in his stronghold Dharwad in Karnataka.
Fakira Dingaleshwar Swami of Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Math, a prominent Veerashaiva Lingayat seminary in Gadag, announced to take on Joshi, whom he accused of “suppressing” not just Lingayats but also other communities, in the May 7 election for Dharwad.
Joshi, a Brahmin, is a four-time MP from Dharwad, where Lingayats are in majority. This marks the first instance of a seer from a prominent mutt contesting LS polls in Karnataka. Several Lingayat seers had gathered in Hubballi on March 27 and urged BJP to replace Joshi as its candidate, setting a March 31 deadline for the party.
Fakira Dingaleshwar Swami of Shirahatti Fakkireshwar Math, a prominent Veerashaiva Lingayat seminary in Gadag, announced to take on Joshi, whom he accused of “suppressing” not just Lingayats but also other communities, in the May 7 election for Dharwad.
Joshi, a Brahmin, is a four-time MP from Dharwad, where Lingayats are in majority. This marks the first instance of a seer from a prominent mutt contesting LS polls in Karnataka. Several Lingayat seers had gathered in Hubballi on March 27 and urged BJP to replace Joshi as its candidate, setting a March 31 deadline for the party.
