Karnataka Assembly Polls: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader KS Eshwarappa Thursday said those who support Hindutava should vote for the saffron party amid speculations that the Lingayat community is upset with the ruling government.

“…We have majority of candidates from Lingayat community and will never say that vote for us because Lingayat candidates are contesting. Instead, those who are Hindutva should vote for BJP; be it Lingayat, Kurba, or Brahmin,” said the BJP leader.

In Karnataka, the Lingayat community has prominence over other castes and attracts special political focus.

Recently, influential Lingayat faces of BJP including former deputy CM Laxman Savadi and Jagadish Shettar left the saffron party over denial of tickets from the preferrable constituencies, who later joined Congress.

Congress trying to play Lingayat card: Eshwarappa 

While making an attack on the grand-old party, Eshwarappa on Thursday alleged that the Congress intended to divide castes and play the Linagayat card, while adding that BJP still have enough leaders from the community.

Meanwhile, BJP stalwart Yediyurappa is all set to begin his state tour to ensure the party’s victory. Yediyurappa retired from the electoral politics earlier and vowed to bring back BJP in power in Karnataka where the saffron party is facing anti-incumbancy.

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However, Yediyurappa’s retirement had also played a role in the controversy of upsetting Lingayat community. As per political critics, the community was agitated as they thought that the party is trying to sideline the Lingayats.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: …We have majority of candidates from Lingayat community and will never say that vote for us because Lingayat candidates are contesting. Instead, those who are Hindutva should vote for BJP, be it Lingayat, Kurba, or Brahmin. By playing the Lingayat card,… pic.twitter.com/St0AhsYmWZ

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2023