Bengaluru: Former CM Siddaramaiah claimed that Padmashri Salu Marada Thimmakka, a well known and much-awarded environmentalist and Nidumamidi Chennamalla Swami of Manava Dharma Peetha met him demanding Vice Chancellor posts in state universities for the scholars from the marginalized classes of society including SC/ ST, etc.

His statement is likely to stir a new controversy as no one knows the caste of the Saalu Marada Thimmakka.

“VC appointments are highly politicized now. There are allegations that money power, caste power plays an important role in VC appointments. There will be an inquiry on who forced Saalu Marada Thimmakka to meet Siddaramaiah and make such an appeal,” said sources in the state government.

Former CM Siddaramaiah said that that out of 25 state universities, no university has academicians from the marginalized section of society as their VCs.

“Saalu Marada Thimmakka and the seer Nidumamidi Chennamalla Swami of Manava Dharma Peetha drew my attention to this,” he said.

Saalu Marada Thimmakka is not aware of the politics in the higher education sector. Misusing her stature for the ambitions of any academician is highly condemnable say authorities.