BJP rival camps vie with each other to woo Lingayats

M.P. Renukacharya
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The infighting in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken a stronger caste turn, with both the camps insisting on holding community conventions.

The efforts to woo the Lingayat community began with the rebel camp holding a meeting of a few Lingayat leaders in Bengaluru a few weeks ago to drive home a message that they are in support of the community. Responding to this, supporters of BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra have been making preparations for some time now to hold a huge convention of Lingayats in a show of strength.

The fight over getting the support of the Lingayat community between the rival camps of the BJP got intense on Friday with supporters of Mr. Vijayendra declaring that there was no question of cancelling the proposed convention to be held in Davangere though their top leaders have advised them to drop the plan. The camp’s prominent member M.P. Renukacharya told media persons that they would hold their convention titled ‘Veerashaiva Maha Sangama’ before May 15.

Basangouda R. Patil Yatnal
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Countering these efforts, rebel camp leader and MLA Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal told media persons that they would also organise a massive convention of Hindus in Davangere itself soon after the convention of supporters of Mr. Vijayendra. He reiterated that veteran leader B.S. Yediyurappa and Mr. Vijayendra were not the sole leaders for the Lingayat community.