The Karnataka government will install a statue of Ambigara Chowdaiah, a poet-reformer from the 12th century, at a suitable place in the State, said Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi.

Responding to Thippannappa Kamakanur, who raised the issue in the Legislative Council in Belagavi on Thursday, the Minister said the State government would honour Ambigara Chowdaiah by installing the statue either on the premises of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru or Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi or any other suitable place. However, he refused to set a timeline to do so.

Several members, including N. Ravi Kumar, H. Vishwanath, Talawar Sabanna of the BJP, took objection to the delay in installing the statue. At one point, Mr. Kamakanur attempted to stage a walk-out opposing the delay. They argued that the government had sanctioned a vast extent of land to place statues of social reformers and saints representing dominating castes, but neglected the poets and saints from Backward Classes.