From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 30: Former higher education minister and Congress leader from north Karnataka Basavaraja Rayareddy on Monday, July 30 said, “This is the time for the return of Siddaramaiah to become the chief minister once again since he is a MLA from the region.”

Rayareddy, who belongs to the politically powerful Lingayat community which holds sway in nearly 120 of the 224 assembly constituencies in the State, said Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s statements have triggered the demand for the separate statehood for north Karnataka and ‘He (Chief Minister) should know how to speak and love the people of the region’.

The Congress leader said the north Karnataka region should not be exploited for political purpose by parties.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah was elected to the legislative assembly from Badami in north Karnataka.

“This is the right time to him (Siddaramaiah) to make a comeback as Chief Minister again,” he said at a press conference in Bengaluru on Monday.

Noting that a majority of ministers in the coalition government were from in and around Bengaluru, the former Minister said Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara should hold discussions to set right injustice meted out to north Karnataka region in the Council of Ministry.

More legislators to be appointed as ministers as well heads of broads and corporations, Rayareddy said.

Rayareddy was one of the prominent Lingayat leaders who spearheaded the movement demanding a separate religious tag for Lingayat community.

He lost elections from Yalburga constituency in Koppal district.