Seers, even Cong leaders warn BJP against removal of Karnataka CM Yediyurappa

The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is considered to be the BJP’s core support base

Amid heightened buzz within a section of the ruling BJP that the exit of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa was on the cards, community factor seems to have come to the fore, with prominent Veerashaiva-Lingayat political leaders and seers throwing their weight behind him.

Several seers and leaders of the dominant community, which is estimated to form about 16 per cent of the state’s population, have cautioned the BJP against any move to dislodge the 78-year-old Lingayat strongman from the CM’s post.

The Veerashaiva-Lingayat community is considered to be the BJP’s core support base.

Senior Congress leader and the head of the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, said the community is behind the CM.

“They (BJP leadership) should remember history — S Nijalingappa, Veerendra Patil, J H Patel and S R Bommai (all former Chief Ministers). They will destroy themselves if they attempt such a thing,” Shivashankarappa said in response to a question on reports that BJP is mulling replacing Yediyurappa.

Several prominent seers from the community like have also favoured Yediyurappa’s continuation, while warning the BJP. Veera Someshwara Shivacharya Swami said any move to replace Yediyurappa will have “big consequences” for the BJP.

The politically influential community is considered to have a significant presence in about 140 of the total 224 assembly constituencies in the state, and decisive in about 90 seats, according to political observers.

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