Seers and dignitaries join the felicitation of cooperation minister Laxman Savadi and others in Belagavi on Sunday
Belagavi : Cooperation minister Laxman Savadi said Belagavi district should get at least two more ministerial berths in the state cabinet, pointing out that the district, which once had five ministers, currently has only two. “Public service is more important than positions of power,” he said, adding that the community’s support would remain a source of strength. Speaking at a felicitation organised by the Basava Jayanti Utsava Samithi at Gandhi Bhavan on Sunday, Savadi said he was conscious of the trust placed in him by the Lingayat community and stressed the need to uphold Basavanna’s ideals and strengthen social unity.
Former MP Ramesh Katti said 94 Lingayat legislators were elected to the assembly when S Nijalingappa was chief minister, while the number had now fallen to 54.
Former MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath said the community could become stronger only by setting aside factional differences. He called for introspection and efforts to strengthen unity. MLA Ashok Pattana expressed disappointment over not getting a ministerial berth despite spending nearly five decades in politics. He alleged caste considerations were influencing cabinet appointments. Seers Siddarama Swami and Allamaprabhu Swami, MLAs Mahantesh Koujalagi, Nikhil Katti and Babasaheb Patil, MLC Channaraj Hattiholi, and other political leaders attended the programme.