Rahul Gandhi to mark Basava Jayanthi during Karnataka polls

New Delhi, Apr 22 : Congress has enlisted Rahul Gandhi to participate in Basava Jayanthi celebrations at Kudala Sangama in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, as part of its outreach to the Lingayat community ahead of the May 10 Assembly polls. Lingayats celebrate Basava Jayanthi as a festival on April 23 across the state. Congress aims to win over the Lingayat vote bank of BJP, which was strengthened by the joining of senior Lingayat leaders Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi. The event at Kudala Sangama, where 12th-century social reformer Guru Basavanna’s samadhi is located, is expected to send a message of Congress’s support for Lingayats. While the programme is organized by an organization, Congress leaders have made the arrangements, and senior Congress leader M.B. Patil is responsible for hosting Rahul Gandhi and organizing the event. The former Congress president will visit Sangameshwara temple and Basavanna’s Ikya Mantapa and participate in the Basava Jayanthi programme, along with all Lingayat leaders of Congress.

As Reported