Lingayat outreach in full swing in runup to Assembly elections in Karnataka

While BJP central leaders are seen reaching out to former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Congress is trying to create space for itself in the vacuum left by the exit of the Lingayat strongman from electoral politics

With Assembly elections inching closer in Karnataka, Veerashaiva-Lingayat political narrative is in the forefront again. With the Lingayat strongman B.S. Yediyurappa retiring from electoral politics, the BJP is seen trying to protect its crucial support base, while the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) are seeking a bigger share of the community’s votes.

The parties are often seen exchanging barbs over perceived ‘insult’ meted out to the community’s leaders by their rivals.

BJP leaders continue to harp on Congress insulting former Chief Ministers the late S. Nijalingappa and the late B. Veerendra Patil, while Congress hits back saying that the BJP insulted Mr. Yediyurappa by forcing him to step down from the post of Chief Minister.

These exchanges are testimony to the importance of the community in Karnataka’s politics, with nine Veerashaiva-Lingayats having been Chief Ministers, including incumbent Basavaraj Bommai.

Multiple sources in Congress believe that the optics of the ‘unceremonious exit’ of Mr. Yediyurappa, the community’s tallest leader currently, and mishandling of the Panchamasali movement for 2-A status in OBC reservation, could help the party regain some lost ground. “The community leaders believe that despite a Lingayat helming the BJP government, not much has been done for them. Increasingly, the community believes that the Mr. Bommai-led government is being indirectly managed by the RSS,” a Congress Lingayat leader said.

Political leaders across parties acknowledged that Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy’s statement about BJP being keen to make a leader from the Brahmin community as the next chief minister has resonated within the community. BJP is seen trying to go the extra mile not to be seen as a ‘Brahmin party’.

While 58 Veerashaiva-Lingayats won in 2018, the Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mahasabha claims that the community’s votes are crucial in about 70 other seats, including reserved constituencies.