Hubballi: The division between the Lingayats and Veerashaivas seems to be growing deeper with prominent seer, Mathe Mahadevi indicating here on Monday that an Akhil Bharata Lingayat Mahasabha could be floated at the next convention of the community in Kalaburgi on September 24 as a parallel to the Veerashaiva Mahasabha.
"Our Basava Dharma Peetha set up a Lingayat Dharma Mahasabha over two decades ago with over 25,000 members. Now, some seers and ministers are planning to form a separate Lingayat forum at the all- India level. I welcome this and we will arrive at an appropriate decision at the rally in Kalaburgi on Sunday," she said.
As for Dr Shivakumar Swamiji of the Tumakuru Siddaganga Mutt recently declaring that both Lingayts and Veerashaivas were one and the same, she claimed that Veerashaiva and BJP leaders had forced him to sign a statement he did not make. "I have no objection to Veerashaivas asking for a separate religious tag, but they should not refer to themselves as Lingayats," the Mathe contended.
Lamenting that the community had not received minority status despite several attempts by the Mahasabha over four decades, she argued it would be impossible to get it for the next three centuries if it was sought under the Veerashaiva-Lingayat banner.
Opposing the decision taken by some Veerashaivas and Lingayats to form a panel of experts to study whether they are part of the same community, she maintained she had no faith in such a committee. "I have no faith in Sharana Sahitya Parishat president, Go Ru Channasabappa,(who is on the panel) as he will not accept Basavanna as founder of the Lingayat religion," she added.
Amit​ Shah strategy: New seats for leaders in 2018
A home away from home could well be strategy for state BJP president B S Yeddyurappa and several BJP leaders with party president Amit Shah importing the experiment which helped the party capture power in Uttar Pradesh earlier this year as part of the BJP's Mission 150 in next year's elections in Karnataka. Sources said that the poll strategy hammered out by Mr Shah envisages top leaders entering the fray from new Assembly constituencies in 2018. Mr Shah and his team are certain that the presence of senior leaders in new boroughs will influence voters while the party retains its original bastion even if rookies are given tickets. While Mr Yeddyurappa heads for Vijayapura or Bagalkot, senior leaders K.S. Eshwarappa, Jagadish Shettar, C.T. Ravi and R Ashok would identify new turfs soon. Mr Eshwarappa, who has contested all polls from Shivamogga, could move to Koppal district where there a significant number of Kuruba voters. Ditto with Mr Ashok and Mr Ravi who are eyeing Bengaluru (Rural) and Hassan districts respectively.
