Recognised as the senior-most sitting legislator in the entire country at the age of 94, veteran Congress MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa, passed away on Sunday, December 14, following a battle with age-related ailments. A notable figure within the Lingayat community, Shivashankarappa served as the national president of the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha.
Colloquially known as ‘appaji’ in his constituency, he was elected multiple times as an MLA from the Davangere South seat and once as an MP. His public influence was tied to his role in transforming education in the region through his decades-long association with the Bapuji Educational Institutions.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah conveyed his condolences, posting on X: "The works of Shivashankarappa, who turned Davanagere district into a model district, will immortalise him in the hearts of the people. “He added that the veteran leader stayed away from scandals during his long public service and dedicated his power solely to the welfare of the people, stating, "His departure has impoverished society as a seasoned leader. “Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also mourned the loss: "Shivashankarappa dedicated his entire life to social service, made special contributions to the field of education. His departure has caused an irreplaceable loss to the state and the Congress Party."
Born on June 16, 1931, Shivashankarappa ended his formal education at the intermediate level but went on to create a vast empire under the Shamanur Group of Industries alongside his network of educational institutions. He led the Bapuji Educational Association, which encompasses over 60 institutions, including medical, engineering, and research colleges.
Shivashankarappa entered politics in 1969 as a member of the Davangere City Municipal Council and first entered the Legislative Assembly in 1994 at the age of 63.
His considerable influence within the dominant Lingayat community was widely acknowledged. His political acumen was so strong that the party assigned him the critical task of bringing former Chief Minister and BJP leader Jagadish Shettar into the Congress fold. This was facilitated by a family connection, as Shivashankarappa's granddaughter, Anchal, is Shettar's daughter-in-law.
He was a vocal advocate for the Lingayat community's representation. Following the 2023 Assembly election victory, he wrote to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge lobbying for community members to receive tickets for the Rajya Sabha polls, claiming the community was being "ignored" despite its historical support for the Congress.
He also publicly criticised Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on multiple occasions, notably over the state government's 2018 attempt to recommend a separate religion tag for Lingayats.
Despite his stature, Shivashankarappa was not immune to controversy. In 2024, he made a sexist remark against the then Davangere parliamentary seat Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Gayathri Siddeshwara, claiming she "only knew how to cook" in the kitchen.
Prior to the 2023 Assembly Elections, he famously declared: "Only galloping horses are chosen for races. I am one such horse. I am going to win with the highest margin in the election." He went on to register a victory against his BJP opponent, former Mayor B. G. Ajay Kumar, by a margin of 27,888 votes.
Also read: Karnataka BJP MPs meet PM Modi to discuss governance
Follow us
