Shamanur: Senior-most MLA, Lingayat leader, industrialist and more

Senior-most incumbent MLA in India and a Lingayat strongman of the Congress, 94-year-old Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who passed away on Sunday, will be remembered not just for the empire he built as an industrialist and educationist, but also for his politics and the work he did as president of the All India Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha. The leader from central Karnataka will be remembered as much for his untiring spirit and love for life, which kept him active even in his ripe old age.

Born on June 16, 1931, to Savithramana and Shamanur Kallappa, Mr. Shivashankarappa did not have a great start in business. But out of sheer grit and planning, he managed to build an empire that now comprises a chain of educational institutions and a group of industries. He belonged to the old school of politics, but had adapted himself to the changing political scenario.

Country’s oldest MLA

When he defeated BJP candidate B.G. Ajay Kumar in 2023 to enter the Legislative Assembly for the sixth time from Davangere South, he was 92. He was the country’s oldest MLA. To overcome the disadvantage of age, Mr. Shivashankarappa had used the unconventional method of canvassing for the election sitting in an electric buggy.

With the win, Mr. Shivashankarappa’s family too had created a record of sorts. Along with him, his son S.S. Mallikarjun (now a Minister) too had won from Davangere North. Subsequently, another member of the family, Prabha Mallikarjun, his daughter-in-law, entered the Lok Sabha in 2024, making it three in a family.

Back in 1969

It was in 1969 that Mr. Shivashankarappa’s stint with the Congress started. He won municipal council election in Davangere and subsequently became the president in the next couple of years. Mr. Shivashankarappa served the State Congress committee as treasurer for a few decades. He entered the Assembly for the first time in 1994, then went on to win for six times and also served as MP once. He was also Horticulture Minister during Siddaramaiah’s previous tenure as Chief Minister.

In his political career, Mr. Shivashankarappa had close association with several Chief Ministers and leaders across parties in the State. At the same time, he also encountered controversies because of his remarks on certain issues. As head of All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, a representative body of the Lingayats, Mr. Shivashankarappa also courted controversy for his wavering stance on the issue of independent religion status for Lingayatism.

As the Lingayat movement resulted in a rift between Lingayats and Veerashaivas, leading to the birth of the Jagatika Lingayat Mahasabha, he made efforts to unite both . It resulted in the mahasabha being named as ‘Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha’. His remarks on seers also had landed him in trouble and so also was his batting in favour of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.

Till his last days, Mr. Shivashankarappa served as head of Bapuji Education Society and the Shamanur Group of Industries, under the banner of which several philanthropic activities are also being done benefitting the needy.