A portion of Lingayat seers in his native Karnataka have opposed Union minister Pralhad Joshi's candidacy for the Lok Sabha from the Dharwad seat. Joshi stated on Saturday that he will "win with their blessings" and declined to comment on their remarks.
I have no idea. I don't want to respond to what they've said. With their blessings, I will triumph. Joshi said, 'I can't say more.
After winning the seat in three straight Lok Sabha elections (in 2009, 2014, and 2019), the minister's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated him again for the forthcoming general elections. He is one of just nine state-based Lok Sabha members to receive a renomination from the ruling party of the Center.
Karnataka, which has 28 parliamentary segments, will cast its votes in the second and third phases of the seven-phase nationwide polling on April 26 and May 7, respectively. Up to 25 BJP candidates, including Joshi, were victorious in Karnataka in 2019.
Who is opposing Joshi's candidature?
Some seers from the powerful Lingayat community, from which BS Yediyurappa, the tallest leader of the BJP in the southern state where Yediyurappa is an ex-chief minister, hails, have opposed the Dharwad MP's candidacy.
A few Lingayat seers believe Joshi was the driving force behind the saffron party's July 2021 chief ministerial victory over Yediyurappa.
Joshi has carried out his political vendetta. It is necessary to alter the Dharwad Lok Sabha ticket. We shall inform the upper command of the BJP of this. Community pontiff Dingaleshwar Swami stated at a press conference on Thursday that the majority of Lingayat votes are in the Dharwad area. He also gave the party until April 2 to change its mind on fielding the Dharwad minister.
Murugha Mutt takes a step back
However, the well-known Murugha Mutt disassociated itself from the statement made by Shirahatti Mutt member Dingaleshwar Swami.
The Dharwad Murugha Mutt has nothing to do with what Swamiji said. Our dog stays out of politics at all costs. It stated in a statement that the choice to finalize a candidate belongs to the relevant parties.
