Lingayat seer Dingaleshwara Swami withdraws nomination from Dharwad

Asked about his opponent, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, the swami said, he has no issues with the person, but his behaviour.

Emphasising that he has entered the polls to fight for “Dharam”, the swami refused to announce his support to any particular party.

He added, “I need a few days to get to that, for now, I have withdrawn my nomination.”

Also Read: Lingayat seer Dingaleshwara Swami announces candidature from Dharwad

Congress seeks support

However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Shivamogga claimed that he had requested Dingaleshwara Swami to withdraw his nomination from Dharwad and extend his support to the Congress candidate.

From Congress, Vinod Asooti is contesting from the Dharwad seat.

Earlier, DK Shivakuamar said that, “If we want (to support the pontiff) we will do it directly, it’s a different matter. We have finalised our party candidate. If he (seer) had asked earlier, it would have been a different matter, now there is a proposal. We have given the ticket to Vinod (Vinod Asooti) of the Youth Congress and he is working.”

Also Read: Congress will consider backing Dingaleshwar Swami, says DK Shivakumar

Taking on the Union minister

Dingaleshwara Swami was contesting against the Union Minister Pralhad Joshi belonging to the Brahmin community, who has been representing the constituency for the last four terms.

Considering the lion’s share of votes by the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community in the Dharwad seat, the pontiff alleged that Joshi suppressed the majority community in terms of politics, business and economy.

When the seers demanded BJP to replace Joshi, BJP parliamentary board member and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa refused to replace him from Dharwad.

Upset over Yediyurappa’s response, Dingaleshwar Swami had launched a scathing attack on Joshi threatening to ensure his defeat in the Lok Sabha polls.

South First had previously reported that the state unit of BJP had recommended against fielding Joshi in Dharwad. In its report to the central leadership of BJP, the state unit had pitched Shankar Patil Munenakoppa or Jagadish Shettar instead of Joshi in Dharwad.

Claiming that he was not against any political party but only Joshi the pontiff said, “People from various communities, mainly Veerashaiva-Lingayats, Dalits, Kurubas and other communities have suffered due to the politics of Joshi. The Veerashaiva-Lingayat alone has around 5 lakh votes.”

Also Read: In Dharwad, Pralhad Joshi has a saffron-clad rival — Dingaleshwar Swami