Maate Mahadevi, the first female Lingayat seer, extends support to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Mate Mahadevi, the first female Lingayat seer, endorsed Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and has asked the community to back Congress in the upcoming Karnataka elections 2018. She has also urged PM Modi to recognize Lingayats as a separate religious group by April 18. Maate Mahadevi, who attended a meeting with 30 other Lingayat pontiffs, said, "Siddaramaiah has supported our demand. We will support him."