Congress Gambles On Lingayats To Defeat BJP In Karnataka

Ahead of the Karnataka elections, the state Congress has declared the Lingayats, traditional supporters of the BJP, a religious minority. The gamble is sure to have political ramifications, but will it help the Congress win?

- Prathima Nandakumar

A mix of religion and politics often creates chaos. And, the ruling Congress is betting on this to retain its biggest state— Karnataka. Ahead of the assembly elections, due in May, the term ‘Lingayat’ has become a hot-button issue in the state. Like the Patidars influenced the recent Gujarat assembly elections, so will the Lingayats in Karnataka. However, electoral fortunes aside, the Lingayat issue will also set a precedent for all future demands for a separate religion.

On March 19, in a major political gamble, the Siddaramaiah government accepted the Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das committee’s recommendation to grant religious minority status to Lingayats and Veerashaiva-Lingayats (those who follow Basavanna) under Section 2(d) of the Karnataka State Minorities Commission Act. The state government will forward the recommendation to the Union government, seeking notification under Section 2(c) of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. The demand will now have to pass through a complex legal and political prism, and withstand massive social scrutiny before the Centre accepts it.

But, who are the Lingayats? Traditionally, they are followers of social reformer Basavanna, who rejected the Vedas and other Hindu scriptures. Veerashaivas, on the other hand, are a Shaivite sect that follows Hindu rituals and the ideals of Basavanna (for more, see graphics). And, that is where the government’s decision gets problematic. While Veerashaivas want the minority status—they contend that both groups have always been treated the same and considered a single community—they want it without any riders. They do not want to be seen as only Basavanna followers. In fact, several Veerashaiva pontiffs and leaders have questioned the government’s “ploy to divide” the two groups.