<p>The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha on Monday strongly rebuked Lingayat spiritual leader Mathe Mahadevi for opposing the candidature of its president and veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa for the post of deputy chief minister.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mahadevi is backing former minister M B Patil’s claim to become deputy chief minister, while opposing the Mahasabha’s demand to appoint Shivashankarappa, 86, for the post citing his age. Both Mahadevi and Patil were strong advocates for the Lingayat faith to get ‘religious minority’ status, which the Mahasabha opposed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“If people thought Mahadevi may have become wiser after the Assembly elections, they are wrong. She is irreparable. She acted as the Congress’ spokesperson and was significantly responsible for the party’s defeat,” Mahasabha senior vice-president N Thippanna said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The self-proclaimed religious leader’s inability to follow Basavanna’s ideology is the result of age-related insanity. It’s unfortunate that she has latched on to the back of M B Patil. We hope the Congress high command will not value her words and instead, provide an opportunity to those who are loyal, to remedy the mistakes that have been made,” Thippanna said.</p>
<p>The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha on Monday strongly rebuked Lingayat spiritual leader Mathe Mahadevi for opposing the candidature of its president and veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa for the post of deputy chief minister.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Mahadevi is backing former minister M B Patil’s claim to become deputy chief minister, while opposing the Mahasabha’s demand to appoint Shivashankarappa, 86, for the post citing his age. Both Mahadevi and Patil were strong advocates for the Lingayat faith to get ‘religious minority’ status, which the Mahasabha opposed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“If people thought Mahadevi may have become wiser after the Assembly elections, they are wrong. She is irreparable. She acted as the Congress’ spokesperson and was significantly responsible for the party’s defeat,” Mahasabha senior vice-president N Thippanna said in a statement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The self-proclaimed religious leader’s inability to follow Basavanna’s ideology is the result of age-related insanity. It’s unfortunate that she has latched on to the back of M B Patil. We hope the Congress high command will not value her words and instead, provide an opportunity to those who are loyal, to remedy the mistakes that have been made,” Thippanna said.</p>