Congress MLA's 'Muslims outnumber Vokkaligas…' statement brews trouble

B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, a Congress leader and MLA remarked that in Karnataka, the Muslims outnumbered the Vokkaligas, a statement which has created controversy, and has triggered "community politics." Ruling BJP leaders, who are also from the Vokkaliga community, have slammed Khan for this statement and said that he is trying to belittle the politically dominant community.

Leaders from the Congress party have also tried to control the damage created while expressing reservations against the comments made.

Reports have emerged of a prominent Vokkaliga seer, Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji has made his displeasure known to Congress leaders about the remark. Khan is considered to be close to Siddaramaiah, the Congress Legislature Party leader. Khan reacted to D K Shivakumar, the party's state President's attempt to consolidate the Vokkaliga community, and had recently said that one cannot become the Chief Minister with the support of only one community.

"No one can become CM with support from one community, everyone will have the desire (to become CM) that's not wrong...it is possible (to become CM) only by taking all communities together? I too have a desire to become CM, my community's percentage is more than that of Vokkaligas. Is it possible for me to become CM, just with the support of my community? Not possible," Khan said.

Hailing from the Vokkaliga community, Shivakumar, in his recent bid to become the Chief Minister had called on the community for support. The Vokkaliga forms the major vote bank in the old Mysuru or southern Karnataka region.

Having aspirations of being the Chief Minister if Congress gain power in the state after the Assembly polls in 2023, both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah have for months been involved in a political rivalry as both are Chief Ministerial aspirants in the event of Congress coming to power in the state after 2023 Assembly polls.

Even though Siddaramaiah has said that a decision regarding the new Chief Minister will be made by the party's newly elected legislators and high command, people who are loyal to him, including Khan have ignored disciplinary action warnings and have openly made statements favouring the leader, which has virtually divided the party.

Criticisms were raised after Khan, in an attempt to make a case for Siddaramaiah as CM face, stated that Muslims outnumber Vokkaligas in the state, and this has now led to a controversy.

Congress leader from Mandya, Cheluvarayaswamy, who is also a Vokkaliga leader showed his displeasure over Khan's statement and said that "unnecessary mentioning" about the community was not right.

Khan's statement has elicited reactions from Swamijis, BJP leaders, to which he said, "Was it needed?....demanding that my Muslim community is strong and we also should be given a chance- is not wrong, but saying we are more than (outnumber) Vokkaligas is unnecessary....it will now be interpreted as the Congress not standing up for Vokkaligas."

MLA Priyank Kharge, another Congress leader without mentioning Khan's name said that people in positions of responsibility must ensure that their words do not cause damage to the community, party and society at large.

"No one should behave in a way that causes damage to the organisation, my goodwill towards someone should not hurt others, there is a party forum like CLP to express your views....president and seniors will take a call regarding disciplinary action," he said but defended Shivakumar by stating that he only sought support of his community.

While BJP leaders criticised Khan, they also took a dig at Shivakumar for bringing in the community to promote personal ambitions and pointed out that one single party did not have a monopoly over the Vokkaligas.

R Ashoka, senior Minister and a prominent Vokkaliga face within the ruling BJP slammed the Congress for bringing the community into their internal fighting and said that the community will not forgive the grand old party and they should refrain from such things.

"Settle your issues within, don't bring community, this country runs as per Constitution, where CM is for the whole state and not for a community...They (Congress) are speaking about Vokkaliga. I'm also a Vokkaliga, what rights do they have to speak about Vokkaligas? The community is respected, the community (largely farming) provides food for the society," he said.

"Don't cross the 'Lakshmanrekha' with regards to Vokkaligas. Congress already has an experience, because of the way they dealt with Veerendra Patil (former CM), his community (Lingayats) is not with the party till today," Ashoka reminded.

C T Ravi, the BJP National General Secretary said that there was a time when there was a feeling that elections can be won only with Muslim votes and that led to appeasement politics.

With PTI inputs