Rahul Gandhi, who’s currently in Karnataka, was meeting the seers at Sri Murugarajendra Mutt in the Chitradurga district and seeked blessings.
Mumbai: A seer from a Lingayat seminary in Karnataka said today that Rahul Gandhi would be prime minister until the chief seer steps in and added a caveat to the blessing, sources said.
The Congress leader met the seers at Sri Murugarajendra Mutt in Chitradurga when one of them, Haveri Hosamutt Swami, said in his speech, sources said, “Rahul Gandhi will become Prime Minister”. At this point, Sri Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru, the institution’s president, reportedly interrupted and added, “Whoever visits our mutt, will be blessed.”
The Lingayats, about 17% of Karnataka’s population, are traditionally BJP voters. With Mr. Gandhi’s visit to the state awaiting elections, Congress also hopes to broaden its appeal and project unity within the party. Elections are due to be held in May next year.
After being in power from 2013 to 2018, Congress briefly formed a government in partnership with the (secular) Janata Dal after the 2018 elections. This government which was led by JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy collapsed in just over a year after the resignation of several MPs from the coalition, reducing it to a minority, after which the BJP returned to the head of state.
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The BJP initially appointed BS Yediyurappa from the Lingayat community as chief minister. Last year he was replaced by Basavaraj Bommai, also from the same parish.
Congress is struggling with an internal division. Legislative Party Leader Siddaramaiah and State Unit Leader DK Shivakumar are both candidates for the post of CM if the party comes to power.
Rahul Gandhi tried to raise the issue at a meeting of the State Unity Political Affairs Committee on Tuesday night, where he urged leaders to work together and not speak out publicly, according to PTI
Party secretary KC Venugopal later told reporters, “There is no leadership problem. Individual opinion is also not acceptable. The party’s new MLAs and high command will decide the leader after the victory.”
“The committee will meet regularly and make collective decisions in the interest of the party. Rahul Gandhi has appealed to the party leaders to act aggressively and united against the BJP misrule in Karnataka and the Center,” he said. adding that it was unanimously decided not to publicly discuss internal affairs. “Unknowingly or knowingly, certain statements are made here and there in front of the media. Don’t fall into this trap. Party leaders shouldn’t speak with different voices inside and outside,” he said further.
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