Addressing a delegation led by Lingayat seer Dingaleshwar Swami of Bhavaikyate Sri Jagadguru Fakkireshwar Mutt, Shirahatti in Gadag, Shivakumar said: "I had earlier sought forgiveness from seers when an attempt was made to separate Veerashaivas and Lingayats. We will do the work of stitching and not cutting. There is strength in unity. I will not divide."

Ater the Congress lost the 2018 Assembly elections, Shivakumar had apologised in October 2018 at an event at Rambhapuri Peetha on behalf of his own party's government led by then chief minister Siddaramaiah over the decision to recommend a separate religious minority status for the Lingayat-Veerashaiva community.

In March 2018, just ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections, the then Siddaramaiah government had recommended granting religious minority status to Veerashaiva-Lingayats, a move widely seen as contributing to Congress losses in North Karnataka.

Addressing seers from over 25 mutts on Saturday, Shivakumar further stated, "I have visited several mutts, including Balehonnur and observed the practices. People have criticised me several times, even when Shivakumara Swamiji of Siddaganga Mutt was treated by a Muslim doctor in Chennai hospital. But such criticism does not affect me."

Clarifying reports that claimed that Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara seer of Gavi Mutt in Koppal had not accepted the invitation to inaugurate Mysuru Dasara, Shivakumar said, "Abhinava Gavisiddeshwara Swamiji will inaugurate the Dasara festivities. Some people are trying to do politics over this and spreading false information. I discussed this with him before finalising his name and the entire state has accepted him."