Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jan 2: Serious discussion took place between former CM B S Yediyurappa, current CM Bommai and senior leaders of state BJP about the set back the party suffered in the recently held local body elections. It is believed that the friction between the sub castes in Veerashaiva and Lingayat communities is the main reason for the under performance of the party.

The issue was discussed when chief minister (CM) Basavaraj Bommai visited former CM B S Yediyurappa at his residence at Cauvery, along with ministers Govinda Karajola and Dr Ashwath Narayana on the occasion of New Year.

Basavaraj Bommai (left) and B S Yediyurappa

The underperformance of state BJP in the elections for Belagavi Lok Sabha seat, bye elections of Maski, Basavakalyan, Hangal and Sindhagi legislative assembly seats and the recent debacle in the elections held for legislative council and local bodies has worried the top brass of BJP in the state.

It is said that Yediyurappa unofficially mentioned about the poor performance of BJP in the elections. It is said that earlier Lingayat community was one. Recently, many maths are established in the name of internal factions in the community and the leaders of those factions are fighting for leadership of the community. This is dividing the Lingayat votes.

There is also a feeling that the Panchamasali sub caste has forsaken BJP as its demand of 2A reservation is delayed by the party. This will also hit the leadership of BJP in north Karnataka.

The Dalits, who are the biggest after the Lingayat community in the state are also divided in left and right groups and the community has lost its prestige due to its leaders’ fight for prestige. Due to these reasons the Dalit leadership has lost its value in the state as per the opinion expressed by senior leaders during the discussion.