Supporters of Vitthal Heroor have set a deadline of one week to install the statue

Avvanna Myakeri, member of Vitthal Heroor Abhimanigala Samiti, addressing a press conference in Kalaburagi on Thursday. | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI

Members of the Vitthal Heroor Abhimaniagala Samiti have given the district administration a week to install a statue of former MLC Vitthal Heroor at the Afzalpur Cross near the Kalaburagi bench of the Karnataka High Court and name a circle after him, or else they have threatened to stage a protest in the city on October 16.

Samiti members Avvanna Myakeri and Basavaraj Bodihal told a press conference here on Thursday that the circle was named after Heroor as early as 2015 and is on the route towards Afzalpur, with which the late leader had a close relationship.

Mr Myakeri said the Koli-Kabbaliga and Kuruba communities maintained cordial relations in the district and expressed concern that the issue over the proposed installation of the statues could cause unnecessary differences between the two communities. He alleged that some people had installed a statue of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah overnight on September 16 at a place to be named after Heroor.

Referring to the recent protest by the leaders of the Kuruba community in Kalaburagi seeking the installation of a statue of Mr. Siddaramaiah at the same place, Mr. Myakeri appealed to the community leaders to avoid any move that could affect the traditionally harmonious relationship between the two communities. He also asked Kuruba community leaders and Siddaramaiah supporters to select an alternative site for the leader’s statue and expressed full support and solidarity of the Koli-Kabbaliga community.

He also recalled the role of Heroor in mobilizing support among the AHINDA communities for Mr. Siddaramaiah in the region and said that the former Chief Minister, who projects as an AHINDA leader, should advise his community members not to oppose the installation of the Heroor statue.

“The AHINDA communities played an important role in Mr. Siddaramaiah becoming Chief Minister twice. The community now expects the same spirit of mutual respect in recognizing Heroor’s contribution,” he said.

The Samiti has warned that its Koli-Kabbaliga community members will launch a large-scale protest on October 16 if the administration fails to install the statue of the Hero within the stipulated time.

Published – 01 Oct 2026 21:53 IST