Mysuru:  Thanking Vokkaliga Community for standing solidly behind him in Chamundeshwari Assembly Constituency, which he won by a huge margin of 36,000 votes against the then Chief Minister Siddharamaiah of the Congress, Higher Education Minister G.T. Devegowda has said that the Mysuru Vokkaligara Sangha has played a key role in taking Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti celebration to other places.

He was speaking at the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti celebration, felicitation of newly elected legislators from Vokkaliga community and Pratibha Puraskara programme organised by Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti celebration at the Sangha premises in Vidyaranyapuram here this morning.

Pointing out that the then Chief Minister Siddharamaiah was appealed for State celebration of Nadaprabhu Jayanti, establishment of Kempegowda Authority and a Study Chair during last year’s Kempegowda Jayanti celebration at Maharaja College ground here, Devegowda said that the Vokkaligas were thankful to Siddharamaiah for meeting the demands of the community by officially celebrating the jayanti,  allotment of Rs. 10 crore for the authority and announcement of a study chair.

He also lauded the Sangha’s efforts for Kempegowda Jayanti celebrations in Delhi in which former President and former SC Judge Gopala Gowda took part. Newly elected Vokkaliga legislators G.T. Devegowda, Narendra, L. Nagendra, K. Mahadev and Marithibbegowda and retired engineer A.C. Lingegowda, former CFTRI Scientist Dr.M.Mahadevaiah, Prof.B.K.Shivanna of Krushik Foundation, Probationary IPS officer Prithvik Shankar and Arjuna awardee V.R. Raghunath were felicitated on the occasion.

Also, meritorious children  of the community who scored high marks in SSLC & PUC (2017-18) were presented Pratibha Puraskar.

Sangha President Mahalingu, General Secretary P. Prashanth Gowda, who is also an MCC Corporator and others were present.