Southern States - Karnataka

Kashappanavar claims MLAs' support

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIJAPUR JUNE 28. Even as the removal of two ministers of Cabinet rank from Bagalkot District — B.B. Chimmanakatti and S.R. Kashappanavar — by the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, has caused disbelief among party workers, there are signs that it has the potential to fuel discontent in the Congress Legislature Party.

Although, Mr. Chimmanakatti, who is known as a "gentleman politician", is unlikely to raise the banner of revolt, the rather outspoken Mr. Kashappanavar, who was involved in controversies during his 33-month tenure as minister, has made it clear that he will not allow the issue to die down.

He was the first among those dropped from the ministry to express disapproval of Mr. Krishna's action in unambiguous terms. Mr. Kashappanavar, who has already expressed dissatisfaction while speaking to the electronic media, told The Hindu on phone from Bangalore on Friday that he, along with "likeminded" legislators would approach the party High Command shortly to seek "justice".

Mr. Kashappanavar claimed that many partymen were in touch with him, and they wanted to register their protest. He said he had advised them to be restrained until they heard from the High Command. Once dissidence surfaced in the party, it would be difficult to control. Moreover, it would sully the party image, which he did not want, he said. Describing the ministry expansion as irrational, he said Mr. Krishna had failed to give fair representation to different sects of the Lingayat community such as Panchamsali and Ganiga.

Mr. Kashappanavar, who is the President of Akhil Bharata Panchamsali Sangha, said he had been assured by the party leadership that he would not be "touched' in the reshuffle, as he represented the largest sect of the Lingayat community. However, the "conspiracy" hatched by the close aides of Chief Minister ensured his exit, he added.

He said that even before the ministry reshuffle, there were rumours that he was among the ministers to be axed. So he met Mr. Krishna, who did not give him an indication of what was to come. He told Mr. Krishna that if he wanted to drop him from the ministry, he had no objection. But he asked the Chief Minister to accommodate a member or two from his Panchamsali sub-caste. All the pancha peethadhyakshas and many other pontiffs wrote to Mr. Krishna that apart from maintaining status quo in the ministry as far as Lingayats were concerned, he should try to give more representation to community. However, Mr. Krishna chose to ignore their wishes, which was unfortunate, he added.

Perhaps Mr. Kashappanavar gave an indication of his plans when he said that the Congress had paid a heavy price whenever it had ignored the Panchamsalis.

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