Former CM Bommai & Cong leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s meeting creates political buzz

Team Udayavani, Jun 15, 2023, 11:17 AM IST

The recent meeting between former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa at a resort near Davanagere has sparked speculation within political circles.

Although Bommai stated that it was a mere courtesy call, the meeting holds significance given the BJP’s allegations of collusion between their own leaders and those from Congress.

The two prominent leaders, both belonging to the Veerashaiva Lingayat community, engaged in discussions for approximately half an hour, the details of which remain undisclosed.

Bommai took to Twitter to clarify that the encounter was based on their existing relationship as distant relatives and that it would be inappropriate to mix politics into the equation.

Bommai further explained that the meeting transpired while he was having dinner at the hotel on his way back to Bengaluru from Shiggaon. He emphasized that the conversation revolved around their grandchildren and lasted a mere ten minutes, with no mention of any political matters.

The meeting is also significant against the backdrop of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s plans to accept the caste-based socio-economic census report, which could potentially impact the Lingayat community.

Shivashankarappa dismissed allegations of adjustment politics, raised by certain BJP leaders, stating that there was no need to attach any political connotations to their meeting.