It’s Lingayats versus Vokaliggas in Karnataka

The writing on the wall is loud and clear: both Lingayats and Vokaliggas, the two major communities who call the shots in Karnataka, want to see one of their own on top. 

Legislators owing allegiance to Lingayat leader B S Yeddyurappa, have made up their mind to replace Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, a Vokkaliga, with Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar. Sources said that Shettar, who failed to become the CM after Yeddyurappa resigned,  is being “sidelined” by Gowda and state BJP president K S Eshwarappa. He was neither being invited to core committee meetings nor was involved in important decisions.

Observing this trend, Yeddyurappa, who had once tried to curtail Shettar’s growth, reportedly brokered peace. Sources claimed that pressure from the Lingayat pontiffs was also increasing. Their next option is Shettar as he enjoys clout both in south and north Karnataka. According to sources, Vokkaliga legislators, who are rallying behind Gowda, are keeping their fingers crossed about the next move of the party high command. They have no game plan as they are quite confident that their Delhi bosses will not yield to these ‘pressure tactics’.