Religious heads of Vokkaliga maths are strongly backing Chief Minister D. V. Sadananda Gowda, making it clear he should be allowed to complete his term despite the BJP's defeat in the Udupi-Chikkamagalur parliamentary bypoll.
The head of the Gurugunda Brahmeshwara Swami Math in Pattanayakanhalli, Sira taluk, Nanjavadhuta Swamiji is reportedly consulting with various Vokkaliga community leaders including Adichunchanagiri seer, Balagangadharnath Swamiji and Vokkaliga organisations to draw up a strategy “to save” Mr Gowda.
The Vokkaliga religious heads could intensify their agitation ith the support Vokkaligara Sangha and some Dalit and Backward Class organisations should the BJP high command ask Mr Gowda to step down in view of the bypoll defeat, according to sources. A Vokkaliga leader said support for the Chief Minister was pouring in during these hard times and warned that unless he got the party's backing, JD(S) would walk away with the community's votes in the Old Mysore region.