A pre-event meeting for Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Jayanti sparked controversy in a local town after key community leaders expressed anger over not being informed about the preparations. The meeting was held at Guru Bhavan under the chairmanship of Deputy Tahsildar Rajkanth, in the absence of the Tahsildar.
Tensions rose when leaders from the Vokkaliga community questioned how a three-day celebration was being planned without proper communication. Former Taluk Municipality Vice President B. Maraiah and rationalist Karovatti Prabhuswamy staged a walkout in protest.
Community leaders Swaminathan and Chethan (a nominated municipal member) echoed these concerns, saying the taluk administration failed to inform several key Vokkaliga representatives, calling it disrespectful and avoidable. “This must not be repeated,” they warned, while urging everyone to join the official Kempegowda Jayanti on the 27th.
However, others, including R. Manikantharaja Gowda, accused the administration of consistently ignoring Vokkaliga leaders. They proposed organizing a parallel celebration by inviting Sri Nirmalananda Swamiji and mobilizing thousands of people for a grand tribute to Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, the city’s founder.
The incident has highlighted administrative gaps and simmering discontent within the Vokkaliga community, with calls growing louder for greater inclusion and transparency in planning culturally significant events.