As talk intensified within a section of the ruling BJP that Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is set to be out, community factors seem to have come to the fore, with party lines leading the Veerashaiva-Lingayat political leader and seer in his own right. Throwing the weight back. him. Several saints and leaders of the dominant community, who is estimated to be around 16 per cent of the state’s population, have cautioned the BJP against any move to remove the 78-year-old Lingayat leader from the post of chief minister.
The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is considered the main support base of the BJP. With a fresh round of speculation set to replace Yediyurappa, senior Congress leader and All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha chief Shamanur Shivashankarappa said the community is behind the chief minister.
“They (BJP leadership) should remember history – S Nijalingappa, Virendra Patil, JH Patel and SR Bommai (all former chief ministers). If they try like this they will destroy themselves,” Sivashankarappa said in response to a question on reports that BJP is considering replacing Yeddyurappa. Stating that the community wants him to continue as the chief minister, he said Yeddyurappa had built the party from scratch.
Veerashaiva Mahasabha is behind them… as long as Yeddyurappa is there, they (BJP) will be there. If Yediyurappa gets upset, things will end there,” he said. Another prominent Congress leader from the Lingayat community and former minister MB Patil has warned that if the BJP “mistreats” a tall leader like Yeddyurappa, it may face the wrath of Lingayats.
BJP should value Yediyurappa’s contribution and treat him with respect. This is my personal opinion, understanding that the proposed changes may be an internal matter of the BJP,” he said. However, the statement of senior Congress leaders in support of Yeddyurappa is being seen as an attempt to increase his clout in the community by attracting his Veerashaiva-Lingayat support base.
Many prominent saints of the community like Shivamurthy Murugh Sharanaru, head of the Sri Jagadguru Murugarajendra Math at Chitradurga, Sri Veera Someswara Shivacharya Swami of the Rambhapuri Peeth in Balehonnur, and Srisaila Jagadguru Channa Siddarama Panditaradhya Yadavraj. Veera Someswara Shivaacharya Swamy said Yeddyurappa would have to convert any move for the BJP into “big people”.
He said, “It is common in politics, whatever one may say, but we are confident that BS Yediyurappa will remain the chief minister and complete the term.” If there is any deficiency in it, it will have big consequences for the party. . Yediyurappa enjoys the support of people from parties and communities for his efficient work during floods and COVID even at this age, the seer said.
“I am sure the national leadership (of the BJP) will not allow it (change the CM),” he said. Murugha Sharanaru said Yeddyurappa is one of the great statesmen-politicians the state has seen and he is a force to be reckoned with.
“Yeddyurappa may be a Lingayat by birth, but he is a mass leader who can take all communities together. Nothing should happen that should affect the dignity of a tall Lingayat leader like him. He has evolved from the grassroots level and worked effectively during COVID, and his continuity is the desire of various pontiffs, people, organizations and political leaders across party lines. .
Siddaram Panditadhyay said, “Yeddyurappa may be old, but he is still working. He should be allowed to continue.” According to some analysts, Yediyurappa is known to have provided generous grants to monasteries and religious institutions during his previous tenure as chief minister, and has thus earned their trust. Amid speculation of his replacement recently, Yeddyurappa’s younger son and state BJP vice-president BY Vijayendra held several meetings with prominent Veerashaiva-Lingayat saints that raised eyebrows in political circles.
Siddarama Panditaradhya Swamiji and Veera Someswara Shivacharya Swami also visited Yeddyurappa’s house in Shivamogga recently. However, Yeddyurappa’s main opponents are also from within the community.
Disgruntled BJP MLAs Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and Arvind Bellad, who are said to be at the forefront of efforts demanding the replacement of the CM for some time, belong to the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community. The community, which owes allegiance to the 12th century social reform movement started by Basaveshwara, has a substantial population in Karnataka, especially in the northern parts of the state.
According to political observers, the politically influential community is considered to have a significant presence in about 140 of the total 224 assembly constituencies in the state, and is decisive in about 90 seats.
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