Banajigas, Panchamasalis seek inclusion of community MLAs in Cabinet

MLAs from the Lingayat Banajiga and Panchamasali communities have to be given preference during State Cabinet expansion, community leaders have said.

Addressing a press conference in Yadgir on Tuesday, Channu Sahukar Vali said that they have already placed a demand that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah give preference to Banajiga and Panchamasali MLAs Allamaprabhu Patil and Vijayanand Kashappanavar during Cabinet expansion.

“However, we haven’t received any positive response from them so far,” he added.

Mr. Vali said that the community will launch a protest by blocking the Bidar-Srirangapatna National Highway near Hattigudur if the demand is not considered immediately.

District president of the Akhila Bharat Banajiga Sangha Bannappa Sunkad urged the Chief Minister to include MLAs belonging to Banajiga and Panchamasali communities in the Cabinet.

Community members Malareddy Bonal, Naveen Kumar, Mahesh, Channabasava Vali, Veerupaksha Shetty, Shivu Doranahalli and Santosh were present.