1/10 - Lingayats hold key to electoral outcome in poll-bound Karnataka
Lingayats hold key to electoral outcome in poll-bound Karnataka
2/10 - Significance of the influential Lingayat community
In poll-bound Karnataka, where caste is one of the crucial factors in deciding the outcome of elections, it is key to understand the importance of the influential Lingayat or Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, to analyse the polity of the state.
3/10 - Announcement by Yediuurappa to retire from electoral politics
Aimed at keeping its Lingayat support base intact even after the recent announcement by Yediuurappa to retire from electoral politics, the BJP is falling back on the seasoned oarsman making him a key poll mascot.
4/10 - Reservation demanded by a section of the Lingayat community
The party also tried to do some kind of justice to the reservation demand by a section of the Lingayat community, enhancing their quota by 2 per cent.
5/10 - Lingayat community had resulted in electoral losses for the party in 2018
However, the then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government\'s decision to recommend to the Centre to accord \'religious minority\' status to the Lingayat community had resulted in electoral losses for the party in 2018 Assembly polls.
6/10 - Most Lingayat leaders suffered defeat
Along with Congress facing losses in the Lingayat-dominated constituencies, most of its leaders who were actively involved in the \'separate Lingayat religion\' movement suffered defeat.
7/10 - Consolidation of Lingayat votes in favour of the BJP's narrative
It was largely seen as consolidation of Lingayat votes in favour of the BJP\'s narrative that the Congress divided society by declaring Lingayats as a minority community, and that it was an attempt to prevent Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat, from becoming chief minister.
8/10 - Demand for separate religion status
While one section led by Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha had demanded separate religion status, the other group wanted it only for Lingayats as they believe that Veerashaiva is one among the seven sects of Shaivas, which is part of Hinduism.
9/10 - Lingayat mutts across the state are politically influential
Several Lingayat mutts across the state are politically influential, and so do the seers or pontiffs who head them.
10/10 - Various sub-castes within the community
Another factor is various sub-castes within the community like- Banajiga, Sadar, Ganiga, and Panchamasalis, which too play a crucial role in Lingayat politics.
