Dharawad: Dingaleshwara Swamiji of Shirahatti expressed his disappointment with the Lingayat society’s decision to split their votes between the Congress party, which has resulted in the division of unity among Lingayats in the state.
Speaking at a religious function on the outskirts of the city on May 15 evening, Swamiji criticised the excessive micro-management of the BJP’s National leaders, which, in his opinion, has led to the party’s decline in the state.
Dingaleshawar Swamiji is the same who had ripped open the era of corruption in the BJP Government. He had accused the party functionaries. He had told that the party leaders had asked 40 per cent commission for releasing the Government money to the Lingayat Matha which had sent shock waves in the BJP cadres in the Lingayat belt.
Swamiji believed that the party failed to properly address the concerns of its state leaders and attempted to impose a top-down approach to party management. While the current BJP leaders are now aware of this issue, it has come too late for them to realise their mistakes.
As a prudent management approach, Swamiji suggested that the party should allow B. S. Yediyurappa to take charge of the state and lead the party at the national level.
Furthermore, the outspoken Swamiji revealed that he had brought up the issue of corruption involving BJP Government officials with the party, but no action was taken. The party allowed the matter to slip away and allowed corruption to flourish, which ultimately resulted in its decline in the state.
In support of the BJP, Swamiji emphasised that senior leaders such as Laxman Savadi, Jagadish Shettar, K. S. Eshwarappa, and B. S. Yediyurappa have been neglected by the party, and their valuable suggestions were not considered by the party’s leaders.
It could be recalled here that even Jagadish Shettar, Former Chief Minister who switched over to Congress just days before the polling had asked the BJP why did the Lingayat votes had split in the state. The party had not taken time or interest in analysing this fact.