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This story is from April 24, 2018

Karnataka Election: Minority tag not an election issue in Lingayat belt Tumakuru

While most Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats in Tumakuru remain tight-lipped about the minority status, they admitted that the issue had not touched the southern belt.
Karnataka Election: Minority tag not an election issue in Lingayat belt Tumakuru
While most Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats in Tumakuru remain tight-lipped about the minority status, they admitted that the issue had not touched the southern belt.
(This story originally appeared in on Apr 24, 2018)
TUMAKURU: If one thought that the Lingayat-Veerashaiva debate and the decision to accord minority status to the Lingayat community will make or mar the chances of parties, Tumakur dashes both wishes. Voters in this Lingayat heartland of South Karnataka believe it is not an election issue.
Tumakuru, with 11 constituencies, has an equal population of Lingayats and Vokkaligas, followed by Dalits.
Lingayat voters, however, hold the key in nine of the 11 constituencies, with Tumakuru Rural, Tiptur and Chikkanayakanahalli being their major pockets. Yet, when the Lingayat-versus -Veerashaiva debate was at its peak, Tumakuru, which houses Siddaganga Mutt, made no noise about it. Currently, of the 11 seats in the district, six are with the JDS, four with Congress and one the BJP.
While most Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats in Tumakuru remain tight-lipped about the minority status, they only admitted that the issue had not touched the southern belt as much as it touched North Karnataka.
Dr Meenakshi Khandimath, Chairperson at the Department of Studies and Research in Political Science, Tumkur University, said that unlike in North Karnataka, Lingayats of south Karnatka do not vote on the basis of caste. “The issue will play a role in regions above Bellary but definitely not in Tumakuru. If at all caste was the criteria, this district should have elected only Lingayat MLAs. Despite this being a Veerashaiva belt, people have elected MLAs from all castes and communities,” the professor observed.
Renuka Paramesh, an officebearer of the Akhila Bharata Veerashaiva Mahasabha pointed out that while the difference between Lingayats and Veerashaiva Lingayats is evident in North Karnataka, it is not the same in the southern parts of Karnataka. “Here marriages take place between the two communities and we in fact do not consider the two communities as different at all. When some Veerashaiva mutts in North Karnataka are making open statements on the issue, Siddaganga mutt has by and large remained neutral, calling for unity,” Renuka said.
The lack of a strong Lingayat leadership and the liberal mindset among the Veerashaivas here are seen as reasons for the issue not gathering steam in the south. “In North Karnataka, political leaders from the community have pursued the matter, whereas the Lingayat leaders in Tumakuru have limited reach and so haven’t been vocal on the issue,” said a person from the community
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About the Author
Akshatha M

Joined The Economic Times as a city reporter to track crucial developmental and infrastructure issues that Bengaluru’s unbridled growth was throwing up. I wrote extensively on issues with a focus on urban livability and sustainability. I now cover policies and politics from the vibrant state of Karnataka. Writing at the intersection of policy, politics and development is enriching and gratifying at the same time. \\nTwitter: @akshatha_ET I Email: akshatha.m@timesgroup.com

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