Contesting elections for Basaveshwara

Before starting his campaign, he attracts people either by hitting a six inch nail into his nostril using a hammer or uses a trick to clear his neck from a noose.

Calling these acts as myth busters, Kallappa Kadechur (51) gets into campaign mood by seeking votes for himself as he is contesting from his own unregistered political party, Lingayat Jagruti Vedike.

Mr. Kadechur is contesting in the Assembly election from Vijayapura city and it is his fifth Assembly election. He contests in the election with the only agenda of preaching and propagating Vachanas of the 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara.

“I have been contesting in the elections since 1998 with the only one clear agenda of disseminating the Vachanas of Basaveshwara which teaches social equality,” he said. Though he never won in any election, his defeats have never deflated his morale and zeal. “I don’t care about the result as my objective is to spread the message of Basaveshwara’s Vachanas,” he said.

Asked why he chose the election process to meet this objective, Mr. Kadechur asserts that politics has become a tool of the super-rich people and that they are not fought on equality.

“If Basaveshwara’s Vachanas get a place in electoral politics also, then they would be the best way to popularise Lingayat Dharma established by him,” he said.

On the issue of religious tag, he thanked the Congress government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for recommending religious tag to Lingayat.

Asked if he believes that the decision would divide Hindus, he says no as Lingayat was a religion till 1881. “Some people associated with Sanatana Hindu have conspired and added it to the Hindu religion. The Congress government has only given its due place,” he said.

On the issue of meat consumption, Mr. Kadechur, with the help of Vachanas of Basaveshwara, says that Basaveshwara was never against meat consumption as he (Basaveshwara) said that any food that fills one’s stomach should be treated as “Prasad”.

He wondered why the government issues order to close down meat shops during Basaveshwara Jayanti when the saint was never against meat consumption.

Stating that he never visits any temple, he said that he only follows Basaveshwara who was against idol worship.

Having received a “Cricketer batting” as his election symbol, Mr. Kadechur said that he is batting for spreading the Vachanas of Basaveshwara during elections.