Introduction:
The Lingayat community in Karnataka, which accounts for 20% of the state’s population, has been a major support base for the ruling BJP for over two decades. The rise of the saffron party in the state is largely attributed to BS Yediyurappa, who emerged as the undisputed leader of the Lingayat community. With Yediyurappa retiring from politics and the BJP denying election tickets to several Lingayat leaders, the party’s hold on the community is now in question ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
BJP’s Strategy with Lingayats:
The BJP has been able to consolidate its hold on the Lingayat community by appointing Basavaraj Bommai, another Lingayat leader, as the new chief minister. The party has also allotted 69 tickets to community leaders for the upcoming polls, compared to 23 by JDS and 51 by Congress. However, the denial of tickets to prominent Lingayat leaders like Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi has led to accusations that the BJP is trying to promote second-rung Lingayat leaders in order to make way for a non-Lingayat chief minister.
Impact on Electoral Prospects:
Political experts believe that the BJP’s attempt to sideline top Lingayat leaders may impact the party’s electoral prospects, particularly in Kittur and Kalyan Karnataka, where 90 assembly seats are at stake. While the BJP may have an advantage in terms of seat share, the difference in vote share between Congress and BJP was only around 4% in the last election, which means even a small swing in vote share could have a significant impact on the outcome of the upcoming polls.
Experts’ Views:
Noted writer and political commentator Basavaraj Itnal believes that the BJP’s continued neglect of Lingayats will have its impact in Kittur Karnataka and Kalyan Karnataka. He also notes that the party’s reluctance to announce a Lingayat as the chief minister candidate indicates its desire to shrug off “Lingayat strongman control.” Writer and litterateur Ramjan Darga says that Indian democracy is based on the caste system and personality cult, and voters prefer leaders based on their contribution to their respective castes rather than their contributions to society as a whole.
Conclusion:
The upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka will be a test for the BJP’s hold on the Lingayat community, which has been a major support base for the party in the state. The denial of tickets to prominent Lingayat leaders has led to concerns that the party is trying to promote second-rung Lingayat leaders in order to make way for a non-Lingayat chief minister. The outcome of the election remains to be seen, but it is clear that the BJP’s tricky Lingayat gameplan will be a major factor in the polls.
