Age no bar, elections baar baar: 91 year old galloping horse ready to contest Karnataka state polls

• India’s oldest sitting legislator, Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, is contesting from Davangere South.
  
  
• The nonagenarian is known to be a heavyweight in the politically strong Lingayat community of the state.
  
  
• Shivashankarappa who declared assets to the tune of ₹312 crore, is an eminent educationist.
  

The grand old party, Indian National Congress is fielding India’s oldest sitting legislator, Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, as its candidate from Davangere South.

Fighting fit

Though he walks with support, a confident and sharp Shivashankarappa calls himself a ‘galloping horse’. The five time MLA and former Lok Sabha member was not short of wit and wisdom, as he spoke to reporters who received the re-nomination.

Horses for races

Shivashankarappa claimed that he will win with the highest margin in the election. This state assembly election will be closely watched as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will try and hold on to its only bastion in the South.

A Lingayat heavyweight

The nonagenarian is known to be a heavyweight in the politically strong Lingayat community of the state.

Who are lingayats?

They are followers of a sect of Hinduism called Lingayatism and are followers of Kannada reformer Basava, who reject temple worship. As many as 100 of 224 Karnataka constituencies are known to be lingayat bastions.

A businessman & millionaire

Shivashankarappa who declared assets to the tune of ₹312 crore, is an eminent educationist and is the chairman of the Bapuji Educational Association.

Sugar and movies

He also has interests in sugar distilleries, and has also produced a Kannada movie.

Bringing back the former CM

The Congress party has recently brought in former CM Jagadish Shettar, a former BJP leader and another Lingayat community heavyweight, into its fold. Shivashankarappa has been key to bringing him in.

It’s all in the family

Shivashankarappa has seven children – three sons and four daughters. One of his sons Shamanur Mallikarjuna is also a politician and was MLA of Davanagere North.