Mysuru:  Upset at the dwindling number of Veerashaiva-Lingayats getting elected to the Karnataka Assembly in recent times, particularly from the districts of Mysuru Revenue division, the community leaders held a meeting recently and unanimously decided to demand tickets for community members where they are more in number.

The meeting took place at Jaganmohan Palace under the banner of Veerashaiva-Lingayat Hitharakshana Vedike. Addressing the meeting, Vedike Honorary President and former MLA H.C. Basavaraj said a strong message must be sent to all political parties by holding a mega convention.

Stressing the need to show the strength of the community, he said Mysuru division has more than 13 lakh Veerashaiva-Lingayat population. “The three major political parties in the State — Congress, BJP and JD(S) — must field candidates based on the community population in Lok Sabha, Assembly and local body elections. If any party refuses to field community candidates, community members must not support such a party”. Basavaraj said.

Alleging that political parties have been neglecting the community, the former MLA urged the political parties to issue ‘B’ forms to community candidates where there are a sizeable number of Veerashaiva-Lingayat voters.

Vedike President C.P. Thammanna called for organising the community in such Assembly segments where there is a sizeable population of Veerashaiva-Lingayats. Calling upon the community members to condemn the efforts of those trying to divide them, he emphasised on the need to speak in a loud and clear voice that Veerashaivas and Lingayats were one and the same.

Vedike Gen. Secretary K.P. Mahadevaswamy maintained that the community had lost ground because of internal squabbles.